Drugs and weapons found on schoolies in Mornington Peninsula
Out-of-control schoolies on the Mornington Peninsula are ignoring increased police numbers and dicing with the law, with several busted with frightening weapons and drug stashes in the first week of celebrations.
South East
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A drug-dealing teenager has been stopped from selling his haul to Mornington Peninsula schoolies.
On Saturday, Victoria Police said an 18-year-old was found by the front line tactical unit to have a large haul of narcotics which were headed for the popular schoolies’ location.
Despite an increase in police numbers and more searches this year, school leavers are still willing to risk getting caught, with weapons also seized by officers.
Knuckle dusters and a pocket knife have also been recovered during searches.
“We arrested one man and intercepted a number of drugs he had which were heading to schoolies,” Senior Sargeant Steve Wood said.
“He had four bags of white powder and 54 capsules of what we believe are MDMA which he was planning to sell to schoolies.”
Snr Sgt Wood said the teen also had a knuckle duster.
Another 18-year-old was arrested on the same day in Rosebud with a number of weapons.
“We caught him with a pocket knife and knuckle dusters on the same day,” Snr Sgt Wood said.
He said the police would not tolerate anyone picking on vulnerable school leavers
Nine people were arrested last year because of brawls and drunken behaviour and police this year pledged more numbers to target alcohol-fuelled violence, drug offences and anti-social behaviour.
Mornington Peninsula local area commander Inspector Janene Denton last week told the Leader police wouldn’t tolerate any behaviour that negatively impacted the community.
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It came after violent incidents plagued Rye last year, with members of the public order response team, armed with shields and batons, called to diffuse tensions.
While the popular coastal destination has been incident free for schoolies this year, a fight broke out at a pub in Rye last night, but it is understood it was between older locals.
“They received some spray from police, but they were probably more toolies than schoolies,” Snr Sgt Wood said.
Schoolies or school-leavers week celebrations officially occurs in Victoria until December 8.