Outer east Melbourne crime: The biggest drug raids of 2021 so far

From huge hauls at homes to intercepts in car washes, police have had no shortage of action as they catch out alleged drug peddler in Melbourne’s outer east.

A series of alleged drug dealers have been caught out by police in Melbourne’s outer east in various raids this year. File picture.

Ice dens, crop houses and hotel carparks have been the scenes of the biggest drug raids in Melbourne’s outer east in the first half of 2021.

And despite the impact of Covid-19 and Melbourne’s lockdowns, alleged peddlers have still been caught out by police in a series of separate raids, with hundreds of thousands of dollars of ice and other drugs seized.

Here’s five of the biggest raids which detectives have carried out in the region so far this year.

BAYSWATER NORTH DRUGS, FIREARMS AND ALLEGEDLY STOLEN CARS

Drugs, cash, weapons and a stolen caravan were uncovered in a massive raid in Bayswater North in June. File picture.

Topping the list is a huge raid in Bayswater North in June, which uncovered more than $400,000 in drugs, cash, firearms, ammunition and alleged stolen vehicles.

Officers attended the Bayswater house on June 2 at 9am to uncover an alleged stolen car and an alleged stolen caravan, which had a combined value of $280,000.

They also seized $120,000 of drugs including a commercial quantity of MDMA and smaller amounts of ice, cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, GHB and prescription medication.

Firearms, ammunition and $11,000 cash were also part of the haul.

Croydon detective Acting Sergeant James Tarrant said officers “dismantled what was a complex criminal syndicate operating in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne”.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the house and received 37 charges associated with alleged drug trafficking, alleged drug possession, allegedly dealing with the proceeds of crime, alleged theft and alleged offences while on bail.

The man was further remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in August.

WANTIRNA HOTEL CARPARK ICE HAUL

A massive amount of ice equivalent to more than 2000 street deals was seized from a hotel carpark in Wantirna in June. File picture.

Police uncovered three cars allegedly packed with drugs in the underground carpark of a Wantirna hotel on June 8.

After they arrested two men, aged 55 and 50 and of no fixed address, officers searched the cars, one of which allegedly had stolen number plates.

They found an alleged 210g of ice, a quantity of GHB, and more than $6000 cash.

Croydon police detective Acting Sergeant Daniel Yeoman said police believed the ice was valued at $100,000 and equated to 2000 street deals.

The 50-year-old man was released pending further inquiries, while the 55-year-old man was charged with alleged drug trafficking and possession offences, along with allegedly dealing with proceeds of crime and displaying a stolen number plate.

The man faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 9 and was remanded to appear again on August 10.

RINGWOOD’S $100K CROP HOUSE

More than $100,000 of cannabis was seized from a Ringwood house in February. File picture.

A Vietnamese man on an expired visa was allegedly caught out minding an estimated $100,000 of cannabis plants in Ringwood in early February.

Croydon detectives raided the Burwood Ave home on at 8.50am on February 11 and allegedly discovered 123 plants inside.

Along with the plants, which had a street value of more than $100,000, detectives also allegedly found a small quantity of ice and a knife.

Croydon detective Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland said the man would be charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking ice, possessing a prohibited weapon and proceeds of crime.

At the time, Sen-Sgt Sutherland said the man would face the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court later this year.

FERNTREE GULLY CAR WASH PING NEAR MACCAS

An estimated $130,000 of ice was seized from a Cockatoo home in March. File picture.

The arrest of a motorcyclist allegedly carrying drugs in a car wash led to a massive ice haul in Melbourne’s hills in March.

Police were out on patrol when they came across the 34-year-old man on Burwood Highway on March 16, near Ferntree Gully’s McDonalds restaurant.

Croydon police detective Senior Constable James Tarrant said the man was on a bike without number plates when officers allegedly found 40g of methylamphetamine on him.

The man allegedly gave a fake name when requested, but it didn’t stop detectives raiding his Cockatoo home the next morning, where they allegedly found another 200g of the drug, along with about $35,000 cash.

Sen-Constable Tarrant said the amount of methylamphetamine was equivalent to about 2000 drug deals and had a street value of $130,000.

The man was charged with various alleged drug offences, allegedly committing an indictable offence while on bail, allegedly dealing with proceeds of crime, and allegedly driving unlicensed.

At the time, officers remanded him to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 17.

LILYDALE HEROIN BUST

About $20,000 of heroin and prescription medication was allegedly seized from a Lilydale home in April. File picture.

Two homes were raided in Lilydale and Wantirna South in April with one allegedly containing a five-figure stash of heroin.

Uniform police and detectives raided a home in Kingsburgh Lane, Lilydale at 5am on Thursday, April 22.

Knox sergeant Ell McGibbony said officers allegedly found 20g of heroin and other prescription drugs, which he said had a street value of about $20,000.

A 37-year-old woman living at the home was arrested and taken to Knox police station for questioning.

Another house linked to the woman on Pentlowe Rd, Wantirna South, was raided later in the morning, and officers found more prescription drugs along with power tools suspected to have been the proceeds of crime.

The woman was expected to be charged with alleged drug offences, allegedly committing an indictable offence on bail, and other alleged bail and dishonesty offences.