Drug crime surges in Goulburn Valley as where dealers are being caught is revealed

Goulburn Valley drug crime has surged by 57 per cent in the past decade, reaching a 10-year high. Find out where the worst areas are.

Drug crime has surged to a 10-year high in the Goulburn Valley.

Goulburn Valley drug crime has surged by 57 per cent in the past decade, according to the latest crime statistics, but police say the rise is attributable to a “relentless” effort to disturb drug networks.

More than 1500 drug offences were recorded in the region in the year to March 2025, according to data published by the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency.

The staggering offence number is a 10-year high for the region and a 57 per cent increase on the 972 offences recorded in 2016.

It comes as drug crime surged to a three-year high across the state.

Eastern Region division three investigation and response manager Inspector Michael Layton said the rise in drug crime across the Goulburn Valley was largely reflective of proactive policing efforts in the region.

“Drug trafficking is a major focus for police across the Goulburn Valley, and we have been relentless in disrupting drug networks operating locally,” he said.

“In the past few years, local detectives have carried out two major operations resulting in the seizure of more than $2m worth of illicit drugs and cash.

“20 people were charged with drug trafficking across Greater Shepparton as part of these investigations.”

Inspector Layton said drug-related offences often led to a rise in other crimes such as thefts and road trauma.

He said that was why police officers’ priority was to strike at the heart of drug supply chains operating within the community.

In the year to March 2025, four in five of all drug offences were drug possession, with Shepparton responsible for 435 drug use or possession charges.

Benalla and Seymour also proved drug hotspots with each town recording 209 and 100 possession offences each.

Drug dealers were caught most frequently in these areas, with more than half of dealing and trafficking arrests in the region taking place in these towns.

During those 12 months, police executed several operations targeting drug crime.

In March, 12 people were arrested and $80,000 worth of coke was seized as specialist police swooped on homes in Shepparton, Tatura and Mooroopna.

During five days of the major operation from the VIPER Taskforce and Shepparton police, officers also seized GHB and cannabis.

In June last year, police busted what they allege was a major drug trafficking ring, arresting 11 people and seizing more than $600,000 worth of drugs and cash.

Shepparton detectives seized more than 8kg of illicit substances including methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and cannabis, as well as $150,000 in cash during search warrants executed across two days.