Street level drug traffickers are in the sights of Port Phillip police, with an average of one person per day arrested locally for drug offending over the past year and over $1.5 million of drugs taken off the streets.
Almost 350 people have been arrested and two-and-a-half kilograms of drugs have been seized in the past year.
Local police have also laid just under 650 charges in relation to this offending and carried out around 40 drug-related search warrants across Port Phillip - in addition to numerous street level arrests.
The most common drug seized was cocaine, with an estimated potential street value of $590,000.
Methylamphetamine with an estimated potential street value of $389,000 and more than half a million dollars' worth of cannabis was also seized.
Ketamine and MDMA were other common substances seized by local police.
Most recently, police executed a search warrant a unit on Alexandra Street, St Kilda East on Thursday 4 July, where they allegedly uncovered close to $270,000 worth of cocaine and $13,000 worth of MDMA, as well as almost $30,000 in cash. A 34-year-old man and 35-year-old woman were arrested at the scene and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine, as well as trafficking and possessing MDMA, and possessing and dealing with proceeds of crime. Both were remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a later date.
Almost $330,000 worth of methylamphetamine was seized during a raid in Port Melbourne on 11 October 2023. $52,000 worth of cocaine and $12,000 worth of MDMA was also uncovered. Officers also seized $520,000 cash and a loaded handgun. A woman aged 28 was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, as well as trafficking cocaine and MDMA, drug possession, deal with property suspected proceeds of crime, possess unregistered handgun, and make false document. She will appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 20 August.
Other arrests and seizures of note include:
• On Friday 28 June, the Prahran Divisional Response Unit executed a search warrant at a unit on Acland Steet, St Kilda. Police seized a traffickable amount of cocaine, as well as MDMA, prescription medication, cash and electronic devices. They also located several credit cards in the names of other people. Two men, aged 31 and 61 were arrested at the unit. The older man was charged with both possessing and trafficking cocaine and ecstasy, as well as possessing a drug of dependence. He was bailed to Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 9 August. The younger man was released pending further enquiries.
• On Wednesday 22 May, detectives arrested a 35-year-old woman at a home on Steele Avenue, St Kilda, and seized methylamphetamine, 1,4-Butanediol, prescription medication, cash, mobile phones and a card in another person's name. It will be alleged the woman was trafficking approximately $70,000 worth of drugs in the St Kilda area between August 2023 and May 2024. She was charged with possessing and trafficking methylamphetamine and 1,4-Butanediol, as well as deal with property suspected proceeds of crime. She was bailed to appear in court at a later date.
• On Friday 22 March the Prahran Divisional Response Unit executed a search warrant at a home on Meadow Street, St Kilda East, following an investigation into alleged drug trafficking across the Stonnington and Port Phillip areas. During the search, police seized quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, prescription medication, and approximately 100ml of 1,4 Butanediol, as well as a medical script in someone else's name. The drugs have a combined estimated street value of more than $3,000. Police also seized mobile phones and a laptop.
A 51-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and charged with possessing methamphetamine, cannabis, prescription medication, other drug of dependence, as well as a Schedule 4 poison. She was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 7 June and will re-appear at a later date. 12 dogs were located at the home, and it will be alleged that they had been neglected. All were seized by the RSPCA.
• A 35-year-old man was arrested on Thursday 14 March following an investigation into the alleged distribution of methylamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, GHB and cannabis across Melbourne's north and southeast. The Prahran Divisional Response Unit - with assistance from the St Kilda Frontline Tasking Unit and the Stonnington and Port Phillip Crime Investigation Units - executed four simultaneous search warrants, uncovering more than two litres of 1,4-Butanediol, as well as quantities of methylamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine and ecstasy, a cannabis plant, prescription medication, a white powder and more than $12,000 in cash. The man was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of 1,4-Butanediol, trafficking methylamphetamine, MDMA and ketamine, as well as possessing ecstasy, prescription medication and proceeds of crime. He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 15 March and will re-appear on 27 July. Two more men - aged 67 and 68 - were charged with drug possession.
• Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged four people and seized more than $10,000 cash following reports of an alleged theft in St Kilda on Monday 11 March. Police were called to Grey Street after the group was allegedly seen moving large bags from a storage box. Following their arrest, police located keys to the storage box, a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and a significant amount of goods believed to have been stolen, as well as more than $10,000 in cash and an imitation firearm. A 46-year-old man from Sunbury and 47-year-old man from Thomastown were charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine. They were remanded to appear in court at a later date. A 36-year-old man from Benalla and a 43-year-old man from Barkers Creek were charged with handling stolen goods & possession of an imitation firearm. They were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a later date.
• More than $200,000 worth of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine was seized in a search warrant in St Kilda on Thursday 1 February, where officers also uncovered $40,000 cash and confiscated two Porsches, believed to be the proceeds of crime. A 46-year-old man and 45-year-old woman were arrested at the scene, both charged with trafficking commercial quantities of drugs of dependence, and were bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 29 April and will reappear on 22 August.
Quotes attributable to Port Phillip Local Area Commander Inspector Brett Coloe:
"Over the past year, we've arrested an average of one person per day for drug related activity and seized an array of illicit substances including methylamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA.
"As part of our enforcement, we have been targeting street level drug traffickers who we know target everyone from our most vulnerable community members to revellers heading to the area's nightlife.
"As a result, methylamphetamine and cocaine were the two most common drugs seized in the area.
"We understand the concerns of the Port Phillip community when it comes to drugs and flow-on crimes.
"By arresting drug traffickers, seizing their drugs, and working with health agencies to support addicted persons, we are making Port Phillip safer for residents, retailers and visitors.
"Local police have also taken advantage of intelligence provided by residents, allowing us to make significant arrests and keep drugs out of the community.
"St Kilda is a really safe place to live and visit; and with around four million visitors to the suburb every year, your chances of being robbed are one in 160,000 and the chances of being randomly assaulted are almost one in 15,000.
"Overall crime in St Kilda is the lowest it has been in the past ten years."
