Four arrested in alleged drug trafficking syndicate in Melbourne’s north and west

Four men have been arrested and police have seized a massive haul of cash and drugs in a series of raids on an alleged crime syndicate in Melbourne’s north and west.

An alleged organised crime syndicate has been busted in a high-level drug trafficking sting.

Police arrested four men and allegedly seized almost $1.5m in cash and 30kg of drugs including heroin, methylamphetamine and cocaine as part of the five-month investigation led by the anti gangs Echo Taskforce.

The first series of raids took place in Maribyrnong and Abbottsford last Wednesday.

A 53-year-old Maribyrnong man was arrested and subsequently charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

He was remanded to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 28.

Police remove evidence from the scene of one of the raids. Picture: Victoria Police

A man is arrested as part of the sting operation. Picture: Victoria Police

On Saturday, a further three men were arrested following raids in Albanvale, Footscray, Maribyrnong, Essendon, Caroline Springs and Southbank.

A 50-year-old Footscray man was charged with traffick large commercial quantity of heroin, traffick large commercial quantity of amphetamine, traffick large commercial quantity of cocaine and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

A 32-year-old Albanvale man was charged with traffick large commercial quantity of amphetamine and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and a 35-year-old Essendon man has been charged with traffick large commercial quantity of heroin.

Both men, aged 32 and 35, were remanded in custody to face court on July 4.

The third man will be brought before the courts on Wednesday.

A detective escorts a man to a police car after one of the raids. Picture: Victoria Police

A vehicle is seized as part of the raids on the alleged drug traffickers. Picture: Victoria Police

Saturday’s raids were carried out by the Echo Taskforce Middle Eastern Organised Crime crew, Illicit Firearms Squad and Major Drug Squad, along with the Australian Federal Police forensics specialists and National Anti Gangs Squad and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission officials.

Victoria Police Crime Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Mick Frewen said drug trafficking syndicates bring “considerable harm to the Victorian community”.

“The money they bring into these syndicates helps facilitate a myriad of other serious and violent offending,” he said.

“Time and time again we see the impact illicit drugs have at all levels, whether that’s assaults, burglaries, drug driving, right through to the health impacts drug use has.

“Victoria Police is committed to doing everything we can to disrupt these syndicates and hold to account those willing to take the risk on bringing illicit drugs to our state.”