Public Transport Melbourne: 37 arrested for drugs, weapons in southeast operation

More than 100 people in Melbourne’s southeast have been caught by police in a three-day operation cracking down on illegal weapons in the community.

More than 30 people have been arrested in a three-day police weapons blitz at public transport hubs in Melbourne’s southeast.

Officers ran OMNI operations in Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong, armed with additional powers to check people and cars for weapons in a designated area.

The operation, which ran from January 20-22, was designed to enhance community safety and remove illegal weapons from the streets.

Officers checked more than 650 people and 800 cars in the three areas across the three days, and identified 105 offenders.

They arrested and charged 37 people for alleged possession of drugs or weapons, including 11 people who were on outstanding warrants.

Seventeen people were given cautions and 26 people were given infringement notices.

Officers also seized 23 knives and other weapons and more than 300 grams of illicit drugs.

Acting Inspector Dean Grande said the operation, which was assisted by public order response and transit police, helped officers better identify “those carrying illegal weapons and get them off the streets before they could cause any harm in our community”.

“Operations such as this are a valuable tool because criminal offending is not predicated by an individual’s gender, age or nationality,” he said.

“Police simply will not tolerate those who break the law or engage in anti-social or violent behaviour that puts the safety of others at risk.”

“We will continue to have a highly visible presence in the community and patrol high risk locations to prevent crime and hold offenders to account.”