Six charged, meth allegedly seized after Warrnambool, Ballarat, Geelong investigation

Six people have been charged and $430,000 worth of drugs seized following an investigation into alleged high-level drug dealing across south-west Victoria.

Luxury cars have been seized in a major drug bust centred on high-level ice trafficking in the Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool areas.

Detectives and representatives from various regions and police units spent months looking into methylamphetamine trafficking in Geelong, Ballarat, and Warrnambool.

Among the seizures made were allegedly half a million dollars’ worth of drugs, 390,000 worth of luxury vehicles, and nearly $200,000 cash.

Ten search warrants were executed on Wednesday in Grovedale, Highton, Point Cook, Werribee, and Warrnambool, during which police seized illicit substances and weapons, including:

- 700 grams of methylamphetamine with an estimated street value of approximately $420,000

Weapons including a handgun, pistol, two silencers, shotgun, and extendable baton

- Three vehicles that police will allege are the proceeds of crime worth about $390,000

- A 2015 Kenworth truck and five motorbikes, all believed to be the proceeds of crime

- About $196,530 in cash

- 38g of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $16,000

- Small quantities of GHB, MDMA pills, anabolic steroids, cannabis, and testosterone

- Allegedly fraudulent and fake identification documents

Four of those arrested were charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, which comes with a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

They were a 32-year-old Highton man, a 30-year-old Point Cook man, a 34-year-old Point Cook man, and a 31-year-old Warrnambool man.

All were remanded to face court on Thursday.

A 26-year-old Werribee man and a 27-year-old Werribee woman were charged with possessing a drug of dependence and will face Werribee Magistrates Court in October.

Detective Senior Sergeant Matthew Kershaw of the Western Region Crime Squad said police had “zero tolerance for drug traffickers, especially those who prey on people who are addicted and vulnerable”.

“A number of those arrested are now staring at the very real possibility of up to 25 years in a prison cell, which is a world away from the fast money and fast cars many drug traffickers foolishly think will last forever,” he said.

“As part of these investigations, we are not only focused on arresting those peddling drugs within our community, but also financially decimating anyone involved in drug trafficking, by seizing every single dollar and asset they have illegally gained.

“Make no mistake – those who deliberately corrupt the safety of the Victorian community with illicit drugs will be caught and thrown before a court.”