Police yesterday charged a third person and seized numerous weapons, including explosives, and drugs as part of an intensive drug trafficking investigation across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Detectives from Box Hill Crime Squad, supported by members of the Clandestine Laboratory Squad and Bomb Squad, executed multiple search warrants at addresses in Kew on Thursday 18 November.
Police seized a loaded handgun, ammunition, a plastic explosive, and detonator.
They also seized small quantities of illicit drugs including methylamphetamine and cannabis, approximately 1.5 litres of 1,4-butanediol with an estimated street value of around $7000, and various drug paraphernalia.
A 35-year-old Kew man was arrested and charged with numerous offences including: possess explosives; traffick drug of dependence; possess drug of dependence; prohibited person possess a firearm; handle stolen goods; deal property suspected proceeds of crime.
He has been bailed with strict conditions to face Melbourne Magistrate’s Court at a later date.
This follows a number of warrants last week, where police arrested and charged two men from Box Hill and Doncaster in connection to the same investigation.
Following their arrests, police seized a cache of weaponry including: two samurai swords; two knuckle dusters; a nunchaku; a kukri; a meat clever; and various knives, as well as various quantities of drugs such as: methylamphetamine; cocaine; heroin; and ketamine with a combined estimated street value of more than $31,000.
The 30-year-old Box Hill man was charged with a total of 33 offences including: traffick cocaine; traffick methylamphetamine; traffick heroin; and possess prohibited weapon, and was remanded in custody.
A 25-year-old Doncaster man was charged with several offences including: possess drug of dependence; possess proceeds of crime; and commit indictable offence while on bail, and was bailed.
Quotes attributed to Detective Acting Inspector Nicholas Vaughan:
“In the space of a week, a third person has been charged following a seven-month investigation into drug trafficking in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.”
“Yesterday, we seized an unlicensed firearm and explosives more commonly found on a demolition site, rather than Melbourne’s leafy eastern suburbs.
“These arrests are the culmination of months of hard work by detectives to smash a local drug trafficking ring and remove illicit substances from our streets.
“Police have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who threatens the community via the distribution of illicit drugs or the harbouring of dangerous weapons. We are on to you and it’s only a matter of time before you are caught. “
