Major police sting targeting St Kilda nabs hundreds of drug dealers, users in clean up push

Hundreds of St Kilda’s most prolific drug dealers and users have been arrested as part of a major police sting aiming to clean up problem areas such as Acland St. See video of the operation in action.

Hundreds of St Kilda’s most prolific drug dealers have been arrested and more than $1.5m worth of illicit drugs wiped from the streets in an effort to clean up trouble-plagued sites such as Acland St.

Over 350 drug users and dealers were arrested and hit with more than 650 charges which dismantled dozens of methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis and ketamine rackets.

The 12-month sting saw more than 40-drug related search warrants executed and an average of one arrest per day for drug offences in the Port Phillip area.

Police seized $590,000 worth of cocaine, about $389,000 worth of methamphetamine, more than half a million dollars worth of cannabis and huge amounts of ketamine and MDMA.

It wiped 2.5kg of gear from the area which would have held an estimated street value of over $1.5m.

Police have arrested more than 350 people in a crackdown in St Kilda. Picture: Victoria Police.

More than 650 charges have been laid following the arrests. Picture: Victoria Police.

Local traders on Acland and Fitzroy streets in St Kilda led the charge, calling for an increased police presence in the Port Phillip area.

Acland St has been a notorious drug hub which affected traders immensely.

Traders have continually voiced concerns of drug-affected people in Acland St. Picture: Jason Edwards

St Kilda has been a notorious drug hub for years — a man gets ready to inject drugs in 2022. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victoria Police Inspector Brett Coloe said those locals had been extremely vocal with their concerns, which included several reports of drug-fuelled violence.

“They give us information on a daily basis… they make observations around drug use, drug trafficking, unsociable behaviour, they let us know what’s going on,” he said.

“They’re concerned by what they see, they’re telling us and we’re acting on those concerns.

“We don’t want this area to be known for that, that’s the reason we’re investing so much energy in apprehending offenders.

“We’ve had some amazing results.”

Victoria Police Inspector Brett Coloe with police officers in Acland Street. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Police have boosted their presence in the Port Phillip area over the past year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Among those to be arrested included a 35-year-old woman accused of dealing more than $70,000 worth of drugs in the St Kilda area over a nine-month period.

Separately, two Porsches, $200,000 worth of cocaine, MDMA and ketamine were seized during a St Kilda raid earlier this year that landed a man and a woman in the docks of Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in April.

In another stunning drug seizure, officers arrested two people after they allegedly seized nearly $270,000 worth of cocaine from a unit on Alexandra St in St Kilda East on July 4.

Quantities of MDMA with a value of $13,000 and nearly $30,000 cash were seized and both parties were charged with drug trafficking offences.

They were both remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

In October last year, more than $500,000 worth of meth, cocaine and MDMA were uncovered during a raid in Port Melbourne.

Officers also netted $520,000 in cash and a loaded handgun.

The woman charged is due to appear in court next month.

Originally published as Major police sting targeting St Kilda nabs hundreds of drug dealers, users in clean up push