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Ten arrested, cars and cash seized in drug raids in Melbourne’s southeast

Ten people have been arrested, and a cache of firearms and luxury cars have been seized, during early morning raids at nine properties in Melbourne’s southeast this morning as part of a methylamphetamine investigation.

Police seize cars, weapons and cash in drug raids

A cache of firearms, luxury cars and a significant amount of cash was uncovered during a major $3 million drug bust in Melbourne’s southeast on Wednesday.

Ten people were arrested during early morning raids at nine properties as part of a long-running methylamphetamine manufacturing and trafficking investigation.

Police seized 16kg of methylamphetamine with a street value of $3 million and $160,000 worth of MDMA, steroids and an unknown powder.

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A red Ferrari California T coupe, a 2017 Mercedes Benz C63, Holden Commodore ute, BMW X5, 2015 Jeep, two jet skis and a motorcycle were also seized.

Police also found eight firearms and a dismantled firearm.

Seven of the firearms were pen pistols.

Three properties in Bentleigh East, two in Oakleigh South, two in Moorabbin and one in Glen Iris and Longwarry were raided as part of Operation Dante.

Victoria Police at one of the nine properties raided as part of the investigation.
Victoria Police at one of the nine properties raided as part of the investigation.
One of the vehicles seized by Victoria Police in Operation Dante.
One of the vehicles seized by Victoria Police in Operation Dante.
One of the vehicles seized in Victoria Police’s Operation Dante.
One of the vehicles seized in Victoria Police’s Operation Dante.

Those arrested include:

A 40-year-old man from Bentleigh East

A 32-year-old man from Glen Iris

A 52-year-old man from Oakleigh South

A 32-year-old man from Moorabbin

A 35-year-old man from Longwarry

A 26-year-old woman from Surrey Hills

A 53-year-old man from Moorabbin

A 27-year-old woman from Rosebud

A 41-year-old man from Lyndhurst

A 32-year-old man from Bendigo

All ten people are currently assisting police with inquiries.

Superintendent Sharon McKinnon said up to 120 officers help bust open the organised drug syndicate.

“There is no doubt it (drugs) have a significant impact on the community,” he said.

“Organised criminals are profiting through their own greed on the vulnerable in the community.

“While we have shut down a significant syndicate today, there would be more out there operating.

“They are hurting out families, they are hurting our community.”

The raids were conducted by the Divisional Response Unit with support by the Special Operations Group, Critical Incident Response Team, Frontline Tasking Unit, Southern Metro Crime Team, Clan Labs and several detectives and general duties police.

The investigation is ongoing.

aneeka.simonis@news.com.au

@AneekaSimonis

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/ten-arrested-cars-and-cash-seized-in-drug-raids-in-melbournes-southeast/news-story/8f4be19e4af3cb110b9bff06f26a3d5b