Albanian ringleader of alleged cannabis syndicate arrested, charged
The alleged ringleader of an Albanian cannabis syndicate operating in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs has been charged with drug trafficking after more than 900 plants were seized.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than a tonne of cannabis will never hit the streets of Melbourne as police swooped on an Albanian organised crime syndicate operating in the northern and western suburbs.
Officers charged two people after executing search warrants in Taylors Hill, Greenvale, Taylors Lakes, Deer Park, Keilor East and Rockbank on Tuesday and Wednesday.
They seized more than 900 cannabis plants and about $200,000 cash.
The floor of a Taylors Hill garage had also been drilled through, allowing the crop stash to be powered by an electricity substation under the property’s fence with lengthy power cables.
A 47-year-old Albanian national, from Taylors Hill – who police allege was the ringleader of the syndicate – was charged with cultivate and traffic large commercial quantity of cannabis and possess proceeds of crime.
A Colombian woman, 44, believed to be a crop sitter, was located at one of the addresses and charged with cultivate and traffic a commercial quantity of cannabis.
“Victoria Police and the VIPER Taskforce will continue to confront organised crime head on,” Detective Acting Insp. Leigh Howse said.
“These alleged grow houses were sophisticated set ups, and as a result of this operation, a tonne of illicit cannabis is now on a one-way ticket to being destroyed.
“We will not stop crippling organised crime entities determined to line their pockets through illicit means and ultimately, to the severe detriment of the rest of the community.”
Victoria Police’s sting across the outer suburbs has resulted in more than a tonne of cannabis – with a street value of approximately $5m – being seized before hitting city streets.
The pair will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 8.
A Melbourne dad’s grisly death and $20m of missing cocaine: An Adelaide shipping yard mystery
The Altona North man was scaling stacked containers with a grappling hook trying to retrieve 50kg of high-quality cocaine from South America when he slipped and fell at an Adelaide shipping yard. The drugs have never been found.
Police pay dispute back on table after turmoil of top brass shake-up
Victoria Police is looking to put recent extreme instability and leadership changes in the past, as voting on a crucial enterprise bargaining deal begins tomorrow.