Yarra crime: 30 people busted for alleged drug offences in April

Police on bikes and horseback arrested scores of alleged traffickers and offenders in a month-long crack down on drug use in Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy.

Police on horseback patrolled inner city streets during the drug blitz. Picture: The Australian

Yarra police arrested and charged 30 alleged offenders during April as part of Operation Enforcement, which aims to stamp out illegal drug activity in Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy.

The operation included the Yarra bike patrol unit, transit police, highway patrol and mounted branch officers on horseback.

They were supported by uniformed and plain clothed detectives at railway stations, tram stops and tram routes in and around Richmond.

Victoria Police bike patrol officers have been patrolling the streets of Richmond for drug-related activity. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Acting Superintendent Kelvin Gale said officers targeted areas based on information from its community engagement team.

He said police caught 16 alleged traffickers and 14 alleged offenders throughout the month, including six alleged traffickers in a house raid in Clifton Hill on April 6.

Five men and one woman were charged following the raid, where police found cannabis, LSD, magic mushrooms, capsicum spray, cash and six conducted energy devices.

“The harm caused by illicit drugs ripples throughout our entire community,” Acting Superintendent Gale said.

“Our number one priority is community safety and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure everyone in Yarra is safe.”

Yarra is also home to Melbourne’s only safe-injecting centre, operated by North Richmond Community Health on Lennox St in Richmond.

Three drug-related arrests occurred in the suburb during the month, including two separate car intercepts involving a woman on April 6 and a man on April 8, and a male pedestrian on the corner of Elizabeth and Church streets on April 22.

The pedestrian, 54, had an outstanding warrant, and was found to have been allegedly in possession of large amounts of heroin, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash.

“Yarra police will continue to have a proactive, ongoing focus targeting street level drug dealing and possession to create a hostile environment for drug traffickers to operate,” Acting Superintendent Gale said.