Officers from the VIPER Taskforce have charged two people and seized in excess of a tonne of cannabis as part of an investigation into an Albanian organised crime syndicate allegedly involved in the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis.
Five warrants were executed on Tuesday, 22 August at residential addresses in Taylors Hill, Greenvale, Taylors Lakes, Deer Park and Rockbank.
A 47-year-old Taylors Hill man, an Albanian national who police will allege was the ringleader of the syndicate, was charged with cultivate and traffick large commercial quantity of cannabis and possess proceeds of crime.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 8 January, 2024.
A 44-year-old Deer Park woman, a Colombian national located at one of the addresses and believed to be a crop sitter, was charged with cultivate and traffick a commercial quantity of cannabis.
She was bailed to front Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 8 January, 2024.
Police seized approximately $200,000 cash from the Taylors Hill address, over 260 cannabis plants from the Taylors Lakes property, over 185 cannabis plants from the Deer Park address, almost 200 plants from the Rockbank property and 100 plants from Greenvale.
The concrete floor of a garage at the Taylors Hill address had been drilled through, allowing for an electricity cable to be connected to an electricity substation under the property's fence.
A further property in Keilor East was raided Wednesday morning (23 August) with an additional 180 plants seized.
The investigation commenced in June of this year when police received a tip off regarding suspicious behaviour at one of the addresses.
In total, in excess of a tonne of cannabis with a street value of approximately $5 million has been seized during this operation.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Leigh Howse, VIPER Taskforce:
"Victoria Police and the VIPER Taskforce will continue to confront organised crime head on. These alleged grow houses were sophisticated set ups, and as a result of this operation, a tonne of illicit cannabis is now on a one-way ticket to being destroyed.
"This is a reminder to anyone involved in organised crime who may think they are invincible: sooner or later, VIPER will be knocking on your door, and you will be facing several years in a prison cell.
"We will not stop crippling organised crime entities determined to line their pockets through illicit means and ultimately, to the severe detriment of the rest of the community.
"Community tip-offs play a crucial role in any investigation - if you observe or hear any suspicious behaviour such as covering or blacking out windows, strong plant smells and unusual vehicle or pedestrian movement, please call police."
