Police seize $749k and almost 200 alleged cannabis plants in southeast residential house raids
Two men and a woman in Melbourne’s southeast have been charged after police uncovered an alleged treasure trove of illegal substances and cash.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A collaboration between multiple suburban police units in Melbourne’s southeast has uncovered an alleged treasure trove of cash and narcotics.
Two men and a woman were arrested and charged with allegedly trafficking illicit substances following the conclusion of three fortnight long police investigations.
Detectives at the Caulfield divisional response unit (DRU) lead the investigations, accompanied by DRU’s from Prahran, Mornington and Dandenong police stations in eight simultaneous search warrants in Elwood, St Kilda, South Melbourne, Brighton and Elsternwick on January 19.
Investigating officers seized about 30g of what is alleged to be cocaine, with an estimated street value of $10,500 and $5000 in cash.
Two 25-year-old men from South Melbourne were charged with allegedly trafficking and possessing cocaine, and allegedly possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Both men have been bailed and will appear before Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on April 6.
This seizure comes after the Caulfield DRU seized 192 cannabis plants and about 15kgs of alleged cannabis in two separate busts last week.
Acting on a community tip off on January 10, officers searched an address in Lamana Rd, Braeside, and uncovered a large commercial quantity of cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $576,000.
A further search warrant was undertaken at a Graham Rd address in Carrum on January 13, where a 49-year-old woman was arrested.
The search allegedly revealed four mature cannabis plants, and about 10kgs of alleged dried cannabis, and $170,000 in cash.
Through the search, police were led to a second address on Governor Rd Braeside, where another search warrant allegedly unveiled 5kg of cannabis and $570,000 in cash.
In a massive haul across the two addresses, police allegedly seized up to 15kgs of alleged dried cannabis, with a street value of $82,500, alongside four mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $12,000. Police also allegedly found a whopping $740,000 in cash.
A Carrum woman was charged with allegedly trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and allegedly possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
She was bailed and is set to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 21.
Caulfield divisional response unit detective Senior Sergeant David Quirk said police were frustrated at the level of drug involved crime occurring.
“Sadly, police see the devastating effects illicit substances can have every single day. Whether an incident of drug fuelled violence or road trauma caused by an impaired driver, we, and our community, are sick of it.
“We will continue to work around the clock to gather intelligence, arrest offenders and put them before the courts.
“Over the past two weeks, not only have we seized large commercial quantities of illicit substances, but we have also been successful in targeting the financial foundations of alleged drug traffickers.”
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
