Raids across state key in smashing organised drug syndicate with $10m street value, firearms, stolen property, cash seized
A MAN has been arrested as police continue their investigation into the seizure of $10 million worth of GHB in late April.
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A MAN has been arrested as police continue their investigation into the seizure of $10 million worth of GHB in late April.
Officers arrested the 24-year-old at Lalor man at Melbourne Airport last night.
He was charged with trafficking a drug of dependence (GHB) and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today.
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The arrest come after a number of raids across Melbourne’s northwest and Shepparton during the past four months.
To date the operation has resulted in the seizure of 2100 litres of the chemical 1, 4-Butanediol (which is used to make GHB), 12 firearms; and the arrest of 30 people.
North West Regional Crime Squad Detective Inspector Jamie Templeton said the investigation was still ongoing.
“Police will continue to dismantle this drug syndicate that’s been operating across Victoria,” he said.
“Operation Turret is still ongoing and we anticipate making further arrests in the near future.”
RAIDS SMASH ORGANISED DRUG SYNDICATE
LAST week police described the seizure of thousands of litres of a key ingredient in a popular party drug as among the state’s largest seizure in Victoria’s history.
Superintendent Michael Grainger confirmed Victoria Police had shut down a GHB drug syndicate — arresting 20 people, including the ringleaders.
GHB is known as a party drug and is sometimes referred to as liquid ecstasy.
“We think this is one of the largest seizures in Victorian history,” he said.
“It’s a great day for Victoria Police.”
Investigators executed a warrant at an industrial property at Craigieburn last month which resulted in police seizing a huge volume of 1, 4 — Butanediol, firearms and stolen property.
Police said investigators uncovered a network of criminal activity.
“It was a Melbourne-based syndicate but a runner was trafficking the drugs to part of Victoria, including Wangaratta, Cobram and Shepparton.”
“We’ve shut down a syndicate which was purely for criminality”.
Police took a large quantity of drugs with a street value of $10m, firearms, stolen property and cash following raids across the state.
Over the past three months, Operation Turret focused on disrupting organised drug syndicates, conducting various raids in Melbourne’s northwest and Shepparton.
Investigators executed a warrant at an industrial property at Craigieburn on Saturday, seizing the latest cache of goods including a large volume of 1, 4 — Butanediol — an ingredient used to make the drug GHB — firearms and stolen property.
Located at the address was:
— 10 x 200 litre drums with I, 4 — Butanediol
— 4 x 25 litre containers with 1, 4 — Butanediol
— 3 x 200 litre drums of a still to be identified liquid substance
— 14 x 10 litre containers of a still to be identified liquid substance
— 1 x firearm
— 2 x stolen vehicles
— 1 stolen trailer
A subsequent search of a Craigieburn house resulted in police finding a number of firearms, cannabis, a quantity of prescription drugs and 10 litres of a liquid product still to be identified.
Four men were arrested and charged with various drug and firearm offences, including: trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs; and prohibited person possessing a firearm.
Two further men, a Roxburgh Park man, 26, and a St Albans man, 21, were arrested and released pending summons.
As part of the operation, five search warrants were executed at properties in Shepparton and one at a property in Lemnos.
Four men and a woman were arrested and a large quantity of cannabis and a number of items related to burglaries in the area were seized.
A 30-year-old Shepparton man was charged with multiple counts of burglary and theft, handling stolen goods, and drug offences.
A 31-year-old Shepparton female was charged with possessing drugs of dependence.
She was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
A 26-year-old Lemnos man was charged with cultivating, possessing and trafficking cannabis, and was bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrate’s Court at a later date.
An 18-year-old Shepparton man and a 57-year-old Shepparton man were released pending further inquires.
Operation Turret has resulted in the seizure of 2100 litres of liquid substance identified as 1-4 Butanediol, an extra 750 litres believed to be 1-4 Butanediol and 12 firearms.
Butanediol is a chemical used to make paint thinner and can be used as a substitute for other illegal substances such as GBL and GHB.
North West Region Crime Inspector Jamie Templeton said detectives have undertaken a complex and comprehensive investigation which subsequently brought about the dismantling of an organised drug syndicate.
“The amount of Butanediol seized is substantial. If you break the volume down into individual doses you have in excess of one million doses,” he said.
“These doses equate to an estimated street value of $10 million.”