VIC GHB dealers: Suburbs with most GHB dealers

The state’s busiest central business hub is a hotspot for GHB dealers, it can be revealed. But use of the drug is also a big problem in the southeast — of Melbourne and the state. SEE THE FULL LIST OF HOTSPOTS

Several people were charged after a major drug bust the city’s southeast last month.

Victoria’s busiest central business hub is a hotspot for GHB dealers and users, the latest crime data reveals.

The latest Crime Statistics Agency data in the year to March reveals Southbank as having the state’s most drug dealing and trafficking offences at 16, Melbourne’s CBD (12) came in second, while Werribee (10), came in third.

Other suburbs that made the top 10 include Preston, St Kilda and Port Melbourne (9), Cranbourne (8), Reservoir (7), Camberwell (7) and Dandenong (7).

Craigieburn took the top spot the previous year at (21), Melbourne’s CBD (14) and Cranbourne at (8).

It comes as 11 people were charged after a major drug bust in the city’s southeast last month.

The bust included seizing a commercial quantity of what they believed to be cocaine and methylamphetamine, along with large amounts of GHB and cannabis.

Arrests were carried out by police spanned at least ten suburbs as part of Operation Brandish’s ongoing investigation into drug trafficking across the city that has been running for almost a year.

Data also obtained by Leader reveals Melbourne’s CBD as having the most cocaine drug use and possession offences at 67, with Southbank (36) second and West Melbourne (12).

A Victoria Police spokesman said while drug use in the Victorian community continued to be a significant concern for police, both in rural and metropolitan areas, an increase in the detection of offences such as drug use and possession was actually considered a positive result.

“With more police in the community than ever before, Victoria Police has the resources to detect criminal offences such as drug use and possession, which may have previously gone undetected and this is reflected in the statistics,” the spokesman said.

“It is also important to remember the postcodes attached to each offence are where the offence is detected and not where the offender resides, while a number of postcodes with higher numbers of drug-related offences also have a significant number of licensed premises.”

The spokesman said police were committed to the pillars of drug harm minimisation – those being prevention, treatment, reducing harm and reducing supply.

“Victoria Police has zero tolerance for drug traffickers, especially those who prey on the vulnerable. In order to drive down the harm caused by drugs in our communities.

“This includes work on a localised level with Divisional Response Units and Crime Investigation Units, right up to the state and international level with Victoria Police’s Drug Taskforce and the Melbourne-based Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) led by the AFP and including Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission.”

He said coronavirus restrictions had also meant police were more readily able to identify suspicious or illegal activity in the community, leading to detections of drug related offending on Victoria’s streets.

SUBURBS WITH MOST GHB DEALING OFFENCES

3006 Southbank includes South Wharf: 16

3000 Melbourne CBD: 12

3030 Werribee includes Quandong, Point Cook, Cocoroc, Werribee South: 10

3072 Preston: 9

3182 St Kilda includes St Kilda West: 9

3207 Port Melbourne: 9

3977 Cranbourne includes Botanic Ridge, Devon Meadows: 8

3073 Reservoir: 7

3124 Camberwell: 7

3175 Dandenong includes Bangholme, Dandenong South, Dandenong North: 7

Source: Crime Statistics Agency

SUBURBS WITH MOST GHB USE AND POSSESSION OFFENCES

3000 Melbourne CBD: 36

3977 Cranbourne includes Botanic Ridge, Devon Meadows: 35

3199 Frankston includes Frankston South: 29

3175 Dandenong includes Bangholme, Dandenong South, Dandenong North: 26

3214 Geelong: 22

3805 Narre Warren includes Narre Warren South: 18

3076 Epping: 17

3006 Southbank includes South Wharf: 17

3810 Pakenham includes Pakenham Upper, Pakenham South, Rythdale: 16

3844 Traralgon: 15

Source: Crime Statistics Agency

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