More than 14 people arrested in drug raids across Melbourne’s inner south

More than a dozen people have been arrested in drug raids on properties across Melbourne’s inner south this morning. See the dramatic footage as police swoop on clandestine labs.

Jordy Atkinson

@jordyatkinson

2 min read

August 15, 2020 - 5:25PM

Port Phillip Leader

Inner South

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Police have arrested 14 people during drugs raids in Melbourne’s inner south.

Detectives swooped on properties in South Melbourne, Brighton East, Ormond, Elwood and St Kilda Saturday morning as part of Operation Brandish, an ongoing investigation into methylamphetamine and cocaine trafficking.

A large commercial amount of meth and cocaine were seized from the properties today, as well as significant quantities of GH, cannabis and precursor chemicals for the manufacture of drugs.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a loaded handgun were also seized during the raids.

Three men from St Kilda, aged 44, 37 and 24, as well as a 22-year-old St Kilda woman were among the 14 people arrested.

Two men, aged 39 and 34, from Brighton East, a 44-year-old Ormond man, and a 37-year-old Elwood man have also been arrested.

Superintendent Sharon McKinnon said police in the Southern Metro Region were committed to investigating and arresting those involved in organised crime and drug trafficking.

“Operation Brandish has been a complex 12-month investigation and those involved have done some incredible work to dismantle this syndicate,” Supt McKinnon said.

“Drugs offences are a key focus for Victoria Police right across the organisation and we have zero tolerance for those bringing harm to our community by trafficking drugs of any type.

“Organised criminals work against everything that is good about our community and are profiting through the exploitation of people who are vulnerable to drug taking and drug addiction.

“We want to reassure the community that Victoria Police will continue to work tirelessly to detect and disrupt this kind of serious offending in our community.

“The work doesn’t stop with these arrests and we will look to chase up every avenue of inquiry possible as a result of this investigation.”

The Southern Metro Divisional Response Unit were supported by a number of other units in the execution of these arrests, including the Special Operations Group, Southern Metro Crime Team, general duties police, detectives from a number of crime investigation units, Dog Squad and Clan Labs.

Those arrested:

• A 28-year-old Hoppers Crossing man

• A38-year-old St Kilda man

• A 34-year-old Safety Beach woman

• A 22-year-old St Kilda woman

• A 44-year-old Ormond man

• A 29-year-old Glenroy man

• A 37-year-old Elwood man

• A 24-year-old St Kilda man

• A 39-year-old Brighton East man

• A 34-year-old Brighton East man

• A 44-year-old St Kilda man