North Richmond crackdown sees hundreds of traffickers arrested
An aggressive crackdown in drug-riddled North Richmond has seen hundreds of traffickers arrested, in what officers say will have a significant flow-on effect within the community.
Police & Courts
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A police crackdown in drug-riddled North Richmond has seen hundreds of traffickers arrested, in what officers say will have a significant flow-on effect within the community.
The Yarra Tasking team, a newly established covert enforcement unit, have made more than 115 arrests for illegal drug trafficking since July last year while bike and foot patrols have led to a further 81 arrests – potentially taking thousands of hits off Melbourne’s streets.
Since February, Operation Confining has targeted Richmond’s Victoria Street and led to the arrest of nine men – aged 36 to 60 years old – all who have been charged with allegedly dealing heroin.
Inspector Anne Rudd said police had “zero tolerance” for drug trafficking, particularly in Richmond.
“It is very clear, drug dealing will not be tolerated,” Insp Rudd said.
“This has been a problem for many years in this area. We have zero tolerance for the people who are causing the most harm in our community, the drug traffickers.
“Our commitment is unwavering. We have a clear focus and commitment to reducing the supply of drugs in Richmond.
“Drug traffickers preying on vulnerable people – they can expect to be held accountable.”
Insp Rudd said the bike squad trial is the first of its kind outside Melbourne’s CBD.
It has been so successful that she will advocate for additional resources upon the trial’s completion in July.
“They are very agile, the bikes can get through traffic very quickly, it can get quite congested in Yarra,” Insp Rudd said.
The bikes are able to target tight laneways inaccessible by car and often catch criminals off guard.
But policing around Richmond’s controversial safe injecting facility has not been without its challenges since it opened in June in 2018.
“To that end we don’t over-police the entrance to the injecting room, to allow people to use it for its intended purpose,” she said.
“There are people chronically dependent on drugs, that is a health issue.”
Among the bike squad’s arrests was a 32-year-old woman who was allegedly caught with 13 plastic bags and 2 circular discs containing what is believed to be a commercial quantity of heroin on May 8 near Little Nicholson Street.
She was subsequently charged for trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and possessing the proceeds of crime.
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