Two men accused of armed robbery and a stabbing, and a woman accused of burgling a bank were among twelve people arrested during a series of warrants across Greater Shepparton last week.
Specialist police from Melbourne travelled to the Goulburn Valley to conduct search warrants alongside the Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit, Divisional Response Unit and the Dog Squad, targeting known alleged offenders and those subject to Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPO) in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Numurkah and Tatura.
This was a localised effort as part of the Australia New Zealand International Drug Working Group (ANZIDWG) national operation targeting illicit drugs.
In five days, efforts by the Eastern Region Crime Squad and local detectives resulted in:
- 69 charges laid in relation to armed robbery, arson, drug trafficking, burglary, assaults, theft and weapon offences, possessing proceeds of crime, and bail offences.
- 12 arrests made
- 11 search warrants executed
- Six firearm prohibition order compliance checks
- Two weapons seized
- One imitation firearm seized
- Seizures of quantities of methylamphetamine, GHB, ecstasy, cannabis and peptides.
Arrests of note include:
- Two men aged 32 and 20 who were arrested following an alleged armed robbery and stabbing in Mooroopna on 4 September. The pair was located at a property on Kakadu Drive, Shepparton, where police seized quantities of methylamphetamine, GHB, ecstasy and cannabis, as well as a hard drive. Both were charged with armed robbery, theft, intentionally cause injury and possess controlled weapon. The older man was also charged with drug trafficking and possession offences, while the younger man was also charged with unlawful assault. Both were remanded into custody.
- A 44-year-old Shepparton woman who was arrested on Tuesday 15 September following an alleged burglary on Wyndham Street, Shepparton three days earlier. She was charged with burglary, three counts of theft, and commit indictable offence whilst on bail. She was granted bail. Investigations remain ongoing.
- A 27-year-old man and 35-year-old woman were arrested at a motel following a search warrant at a unit on Graham Street, Shepparton. Detectives seized an imitation firearm, ammunition, cannabis, peptides, mobile phones and cash from the unit, and almost 5kg of cannabis from the motel room. The pair was charged with cultivating, trafficking and possessing cannabis, and possessing proceeds of crime. The man was also charged with prohibited person possess imitation firearm. Both were bailed.
- A 38-year-old Mooroopna woman who was arrested in Shepparton and charged with arson. The charges relate to two alleged incidents in March causing damage to a home and car in Mooroopna. It will be alleged she fled the state following the incident, before returning to Shepparton on Tuesday 14 September. The woman was remanded in custody.
- A 27-year-old man who was arrested during an FPO at a home on Annette Court, Shepparton. There, officers seized a push dagger and a set of knuckledusters as well as methylamphetamine, cannabis and prescription medication. He was charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, and possessing methylamphetamine and Schedule 4 and 8 poisons. He was bailed. A 31-year-old woman present at the home was also issued with a cannabis caution.
Those charged will face Shepparton Magistrates’ Court at later dates.
Similar operations will be conducted in the future.
Quotes attributable to Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Shortis:
“This activity represents our localised efforts as part of the Australia New Zealand International Drug Working Group (ANZIDWG) national operation in the fight against illicit drugs.
“Eastern Region detectives are playing their role in reducing harm caused by drugs and the flow-on effect drugs have across our community and beyond.
“We know drugs fuel further criminality such as theft, assaults, family violence, robberies and aggravated burglaries, as well as contributing to road trauma when drivers are impaired by illicit drugs.
“These operations will continue in the future, so our message to anyone trafficking drugs or not complying with their firearm prohibition order is really clear: we know who you are and it’s only a matter of time before we knock on your door.”
