Detectives from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad have arrested 14 people and executed 19 search warrants as part of a six-month investigation into the manufacture and trafficking of methylamphetamine in Victoria.
With assistance from the Special Operations Group, the VIPER Taskforce, Major Drug Squad and Box Hill Divisional Response Unit, 13 search warrants were executed over four phases at residential addresses in Yan Yean (2), Melbourne, North Melbourne, Greenvale, Hallam, Bonbeach, Greensborough (2), Box Hill North, at three storage addresses in Sunshine North and a further six warrants on vehicles.
In total, 11 people are expected to be charged, including:
- A 50-year-old Greensborough man who police will allege was the cook, was charged with traffick large commercial quantity methylamphetamine, traffick commercial quantity methylamphetamine, possess equipment for manufacturing/trafficking drug of dependence, possess methylamphetamine, possess hypophosphorous acid and possess iodine.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 May.
- A 52-year-old Yan Yean man who was charged with possess equipment for manufacture/trafficking drug of dependence, possess methylamphetamine, cultivate narcotic plant and possess cannabis.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 May.
- A 38-year-old St Albans man who was charged with traffick methylamphetamine, possess methylamphetamine, possess proceeds of crime and two counts of commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
He was bailed by a magistrate to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates' Court on 28 March.
- A 34-year-old Melbourne man who was charged with traffick commercial quantity methylamphetamine, traffick cocaine, possess methylamphetamine, possess cocaine, prohibited person possess firearm, possess ammunition, two counts of commit indictable offence whilst on bail and contravene condition of bail.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 20 May.
- A 34-year-old Greenvale man who was charged with traffick large commercial quantity methylamphetamine and traffick large commercial quantity heroin.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' on 27 May.
- A 41-year-old Hallam man who was charged with traffick 1,4-Butanediol, possess methylamphetamine, possess MDMA, possess cocaine, possess prescription medication, possess ammunition and two counts of possess silencer.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 9 May.
- A 45-year-old Box Hill North man who was charged with traffick commercial quantity of 1,4-Butanediol, traffick commercial quantity ephedrine, traffick methylamphetamine, possess methylamphetamine, possess prescription medication, possess LSD, possess ecstasy, possess controlled weapon (taser) and traffick large commercial quantity pseudoephedrine.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 May.
- A 33-year-old North Melbourne man who was charged with traffick commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, possess methylamphetamine, possess heroin, possess cocaine, possess LSD, possess MDMA, possess ecstasy, possess cannabis, possess prescription medication, possess ammunition, possess imitation firearm.
He was bailed by a magistrate to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 7 May.
- A 35-year-old St Albans man who was charged with possess heroin and commit indictable offence whilst on bail.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 4 April.
- A 51-year-old Bonbeach woman who was given a drug diversion for possess methylamphetamine, and
- A 30-year-old Greenvale woman who is expected to be charged on summons in relation to the offences of trafficking methylamphetamine and heroin.
Three other people, a man and two women, were interviewed and released without charge.
A warrant was executed at a large rural property in Yan Yean on Monday, 22 January, where police located a large active clandestine laboratory.
Investigators searched an address in Melbourne on Monday, 29 January, and seized a commercial amount of methylamphetamine, various amounts of other drugs of dependence, as well as a .45 calibre handgun and ammunition.
A commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, approximately $5000 cash, a heroin press, a large cash counting machine, a previously stolen vehicle and a small amount of heroin were seized from a Greenvale address on Wednesday, 7 February.
On the same day, a traffickable amount of 1,4-Butanediol, as well as quantities of methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA capsules and prescription medication were seized from the Bonbeach property.
Police seized a large amount of various calibre ammunition, two silencers and firearm ammunition clips from the Hallam property.
On Wednesday, 14 February, commercial quantities of 1,4-Butanediol, ephedrine, a traffickable amount of methylamphetamine, quantities of LSD, ecstasy and prescription medication as well as a conducted energy device (taser) were seized from a Box Hill North address.
Investigators will allege pseudoephedrine was being sourced from a foreign national with links to organised crime in order to manufacture methylamphetamine.
Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Anthony Vella, Clandestine Laboratory Squad:
"This was a significant investigation which has stopped a production line of methylamphetamine from reaching Victorian streets and prevented millions of dollars of drug profit flowing back into the syndicate to fund their next criminal venture.
"This operation represents the disruption of the illicit drug chain at multiple levels. As well as arresting those persons directly involved in the manufacture of methylamphetamine, we have systematically targeted those that supplied the clandestine laboratory with precursor chemicals and those involved in the large-scale distribution of the methylamphetamine laboratory's output.
"Methylamphetamine, even in small amounts, causes immense harm to users, their loved ones, and the community around them, through the impact on the health care system and the criminality that often goes hand in hand with drug offences.
"It is an extremely destructive illicit substance, and we will continue to unapologetically target and arrest anyone who seeks to line their pockets at the expense of our community."
