Two people have been arrested following an extensive police investigation into an alleged organised crime syndicate.
The operation involved local police from Knox, Croydon Divisional Response Unit and Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Police executed a search warrant at a property in Wantirna South on Tuesday 10 October, where they seized a substantial amount of evidence including traffickable amounts of methylamphetamine, MDMA, Cannabis, GHB, ammunition, various prohibited weapons including two swords, a rifle scope, a firework, stolen licences and bank cards.
Those arrested by police include:
• A 48-year-old man from Wantirna South was charged with traffick methylamphetamine, possess drug of dependence, possess prohibited weapons, possess ammunition, possess explosive. He was remanded to face Ringwood Magistrates Court’ on 16 October 2023.
• A 39-year-old woman from Wantirna South was charged was charged with make false document, possess identification documents to facilitate indictable offence, possess drug of dependence, deal with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, commit indictable offence whilst on bail. She was remanded to face Ringwood Magistrates Court’ on 31 October 2023.
Quotes attributable to Victoria Police Acting Sergeant Dylan Robinson:
“We have a clear warning to anyone who chooses a path of crime. You may think you’re smart, but we’ve got the intelligence and resources to take you down.
“If you are involved in organised crime, we will work tirelessly to identify, apprehend, and bring you to justice.”
AFP Detective Inspector James Cheshire said the AFP, together with its state and Commonwealth law enforcement partners had zero tolerance for the illegal importation of drugs and weapons into Australia.
Quotes attributable to AFP Detective Inspector James Cheshire:
“This overt action is just another example of the AFP and Victoria Police working together in close cooperation and partnership to keep Australians safe from the threat of transnational serious organised crime,” he said.
