St Kilda crime: Drugs and weapons seized, arrests made as police clean up streets

Cash, weapons and more than $150k in drugs have been seized as police move to “dismantle” criminal gangs and clean-up St Kilda’s streets.

Police have smashed a hardcore group of street-level drug dealers in a “no tolerance” approach to clean up St Kilda.

Detectives say they will leave “no stone unturned” in a bid to “disrupt and dismantle” the criminal gangs.

Officers have already arrested 35 people and laid 163 charges since the start of the year.

They have also seized a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun and 20 imitation firearms which included a sub-machine gun.

Police also removed $150,000 of drugs, $50,000 in cash and prohibited weapons including swords, tasers and a dagger.

Police have arrested 35 people since the start of 2023.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Moreland said the Prahran Drug Response Unit was focusing on a small minority who caused “significant concern” in the heart of the community.

“We are targeting known and recidivist offenders and we will leave no stone unturned – no one will be left alone” Sen-Sgt Moreland said.

“Our aim is to disrupt and dismantle and we are very focused on making sure these criminal networks are constantly looking over their shoulders.”

He added the mid-tier peddlers were causing a spike in anti-social behaviour by luring people to the area fuelled by a dependence on drugs.

“We were seeing an increase in drug related harm; public order offences, assaults in the street, drug driving and family violence offending – the flow on effects from the drug trade.

“By cracking down on the street offenders and making life as uncomfortable as possible for them it is also hurting the drug traffickers and getting the message to those up the chain.”

He said unfortunately weapons went “hand-in-hand” with drug crime.

“If you partake in drug trafficking, firearm possession unfortunately can go hand-in-hand, which is a combination that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Police discovered 18 imitation firearms in a St Kilda house.

Police have seized weapons and drugs during their crackdown on crime.

Among the imitation haul were 12 longarm firearms, including semiautomatics, two shotguns and a sniper rifle.

There were also six handguns, including a sub-machine gun, a silencer, and a replica Glock.

“These guns look very real and you’re not going to know the difference if one is pointed in your face,” Sen-Sgt Moreland said.

Of those arrested since the start of the year, 13 have been charged with drug trafficking and one with trafficking a commercial quantity. Ten people were remanded in custody.

Drugs seized ranged from heroin and MDMA to cocaine and methylamphetamine.

There were 237 more drug related offences last year than in 2021.

Sen-Sgt Moreland said police would maintain the focus on low level offending while continuing to target the more serious drug traffickers.

“Our message is clear; if you seek to target vulnerable members of our community, we are coming for you, we will stamp you out.”