Officers from the VIPER Taskforce have charged two men overnight and seized over $1M worth of various drugs of dependence.
With assistance from the Major Drug Squad, Box Hill Divisional Response Unit and the Dog Squad, warrants were executed at a residential address and a storage facility in Box Hill on Tuesday morning.
Police seized traffickable quantities of what appear to be methylamphetamine and ketamine, large quantities of cocaine and heroin and a small quantity of 1,4-Butanediol, as well as other drug related paraphernalia.
The drugs have an estimated street value of over $1M.
Two men from Box Hill, a 37-year-old and a 35-year-old, were charged with two counts of traffick large commercial quantity drug of dependence.
The duo was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
The VIPER Taskforce is a tactical and investigative unit based within Crime Command focused on preventing, detecting, deterring, disrupting and dismantling the criminal activities of groups such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, organised crime networks and street gangs.
The taskforce, which commenced in July 2022, supports the work of specialist investigation units and regional police by providing further investigation tactics and enforcement actions.
VIPER is an acronym for visibility, intelligence, prevention, enforcement and reassurance.
Anyone with information about organised criminal or illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auExternal Link
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Craig Darlow, VIPER Taskforce:
“Victoria Police and VIPER Taskforce relentlessly disrupt and target drug traffickers because illicit drugs make our communities and our roads less safe.
“Let me be clear – there is no safe illicit drug to take. Ultimately, we really need to challenge attitudes around the use of illicit drugs in the community.
“We are sending a strong and clear message today to organised crime. We will not stop. We are coming after you.
“Any perception that drug trafficking leads to fast or easy money could not be further from the truth – there is nothing easy about serving decades of your life in prison.
“This is a warning that regardless of where you are or where how you operate, we will target those involved in the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs and hold them to account.”
