Two men charged as police announce crackdown on Chapel St cocaine and drug dealers

COCAINE dealers who target users in the trendy clubs and bars of South Yarra and Prahran are the target of a police crackdown, with two men facing drug trafficking charges after raids in St Kilda, Bentleigh and Brighton.

COCAINE dealers who target users in the trendy clubs and bars of South Yarra and Prahran are the target of a police crackdown.

Police believe several criminal groups are peddling drugs, including cocaine and MDMA, in the entertainment precinct.

Two men have been charged after raids in St Kilda, Bentleigh and Brighton, with police saying the drug trafficking operation has links to people associated with bikies.

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Acting Inspector Troy Thomson told the Herald Sun the investigation into the supply of cocaine and other drugs in the venues was continuing.

Prahran divisional response unit officers executed warrants about 4pm last Friday.

A 23-year-old Bentleigh man and a 24-year-old Brighton man were arrested and quantities of cocaine, cannabis, MDMA and cash were also seized. Both men have been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence and were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 21.

Police believe drug gangs have targeted the Chapel St area. Picture: David Crosling

A 22-year-old woman was also arrested in Brighton but was released pending further inquiries.

Insp Thomson said police had zero tolerance for drug traffickers.

“The only people who benefit from drugs are the criminals who peddle these substances,” he said.

“Police will continue to work hard to prevent, detect and disrupt people who bring drugs into the community.”

The probe into the drug dealing lasted about two months before the arrests were made last week.

“They (the men charged) were part of a focus into people trafficking drugs in and around licenced venues in the Port Phillip and Stonnington areas,” Insp Thomson said.

“We will continue to conduct activity which is going to prevent, deter and disrupt the trafficking of drugs in these places.

The supply of cocaine has links to bikies.

“We believe there are a number of different groups working clubs in the area. The more we target them, the more we will understand them.”

Police will continue to run “Operation Safenight” in South Yarra, Prahran and St Kilda on Friday and Saturday nights, in a determined bid to improve safety and minimise harm associated with drug and alcohol misuse and anti-social behaviour.

The operation is run by uniformed and plain-clothes police, with the support of specialist resources including detector dogs and highway ­patrol officers.

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