Woman arrested after cash, drugs, and luxury cars seized in raids

A CBD woman is among nine people to be charged after $750,000 in cash, drugs, and swords were seized in a wave of suburban raids including at Southbank properties, conducted by Victoria Police.

The 28-year-old woman was arrested and charged with possessing various drugs of dependence after search warrants were executed over a five-day period from July 10 to 14 at properties in Albion, Braybrook, and Kalkallo, resulting in five arrests.

The woman was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 2.

Warrants were also executed at two Southbank properties on July 17, in which a 34-year-old Southbank man was arrested.

Police allege he is the leader of a drug syndicate believed to have trafficked large commercial quantities of methylamphetamine and heroin across Melbourne.   

Luxury bags and jewellery believed to be valued at more than $100,000 were seized at one Southbank property, while a 2018 Porsche Macan and a small heroin press found in the car were seized from another.

Police charged the Southbank man with trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 20.

The raids are part of an investigation by detectives from the Major Drug Squad into alleged drug trafficking by an Asian organised crime syndicate.  It has so far resulted in a total of nine people being charged after the investigation began in September last year.

Further search warrants were executed at properties on February 24 including Southbank, Deer Park, St Albans, and Braybrook where police seized drugs and articles used in the preparation of drugs of dependence for sale and about $400,000 in cash.

A 32-year-old Southbank man has since been charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 17.

Residential properties in Sunshine and Sunshine North were also searched on June 22, where police found a clandestine laboratory, and seized an alleged commercial quantity of what is believed to be methylamphetamine, precursor chemicals, about $100,000 cash and a 2020 Mercedes Benz GLC63.

At the St Albans address, a loaded handgun, ammunition, an imitation handgun, and quantities of what police allege appear to be heroin and methylamphetamine were seized, as well as six Samurai swords, luxury bags and cigarette lighters, and about $50,000 cash.

At a Braybrook property, drugs, and about $50,000 cash, as well as an imitation firearm and cannabis plants were seized, while quantities of what allegedly appeared to be methylamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA were found at a storage facility in Braybrook.

Police are continuing their investigating. Anyone with information about illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au. •

Caption: Police seize two vehicles. Video: Victoria Police.