Police seize thousands in drugs after major bust in Melbourne’s north

Police have busted four key figures in an alleged organised drug syndicate in Melbourne’s north, seizing drugs, cash, weapons, luxury watches and gold bars.

Police have busted an alleged drug ring based in Melbourne’s north that is believed to have raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars from trafficking drugs, with four men charged.

Mill Park detectives and special task forces executed seven search warrants on January 15 and 16, leading to the arrest and charging of 35-year-old man from Brunswick, 34-year-old man from Fitzroy, a 50-year-old man from Springvale and a 32-year-old man from Preston.

During the search, police seized almost $275,000 worth of methamphetamine, heroin and GHB, five firearms and 13 weapons including knives, tasers and knuckle dusters.

Police also found $350,000 in cash and luxury items including luxury watches, pure gold rings, designer handbags, and gold bullion, all believed to be the proceeds of crime totalling more than $750,000.

Three of the charged men will face serious drug charges in court for trafficking commercial quantities of drugs, with life imprisonment as the maximum penalty.

Police have alleged the Brunswick man was the leader of the syndicate, who was charged with trafficking large commercial quantities of methamphetamine, heroin and GHB, firearms offences and possessing the proceeds of crime.

He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 17.

The Fitzroy man and the Springvale man were both charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and weapons offences, they are set to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court January 17 and Dandenong Magistrates’ Court January 31 respectively.

The Preston man was charged with possession of GHB and possessing the proceeds of crime, he will appear before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court January 17.

Mill Park police senior constable Matt Reynolds said police were working collaboratively across Melbourne to take down drug syndicates.

“Local police continue to share intelligence with our counterparts in other regions and at crime command to cripple organised crime entities determined to line their pockets through illicit means and ultimately, to the severe detriment of the rest of the community.”