40kg of ice seized in major organised crime drug operation in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs
Drugs with a potential street value of $20 million have been seized in an organised crime drug operation in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs leading to multiple arrests.
Police & Courts
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Three people have been arrested and 40kg of ice seized in an organised crime drug operation centred on Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
The Herald Sun has been told syndicate masterminds have been recruiting Chinese visa-holders to import the methylamphetamine into Australia.
The men arrested in the Taskforce Icarus probe were a 24-year-year-old from Glen Waverley, a 36-year-old from Doncaster and a 20-year-old from Bundoora.
They are suspected of being middle-ranked players in the crime ring and were intercepted in a car at Doncaster East on Monday night.
Investigators seized 3kg of methylamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, scales, a gun, knuckle dusters, tools, passports, radio equipment and mobile phones.
The men were interviewed and charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.
All have been remanded.
Police say they have seized 40kg of methylamphetamine with a potential street value of $20 million during the course of their four-month operation.
Their investigation is continuing.
Detective Insp. Craig Darlow of Victoria Police said those charged faced potentially heavy penalties.
“The drugs seized equate to hundreds of thousands of hits and by intercepting them we’ve been able to limit the impact they have locally,” Insp. Darlow said.
“Our aim is to ensure we disrupt the organised crime syndicates responsible for these imports, so to arrest and charge three people as well as effecting these seizures is extremely satisfying.
ABF Commander James Watson said criminals who think they can import illicit drugs into the country should think again.”
“Every deal that makes it to the street has the potential to cause death or serious harm; then there are the devastating social impacts on families affected by illicit drug use, not to mention significant healthcare system costs.
“We continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop these drugs reaching our communities where they can cause so much damage,” he said.
Australian Federal Police detective Inspector Julian Bianco said the operation was a significant blow to organised crime.
Icarus is a joint taskforce involving Victoria Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police, and the Department of Home Affairs.
It targets those using international mail and air cargo systems for criminal activity.
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