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Preston 15 May2023(TIE)Police have arrested 12 people and seized drugs and stolen vehicles as part of a week-long operation targeting those with links to serious and violent crime in Brimbank and Melton.
Those with links to street gangs or subject to Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPO) were checked as part of the operation running from 1 – 5 May.
11 people with current FPOs were searched, and six people were served with a new FPO.
Pleasingly, police found majority of those with active FPOs to be complying with their conditions.
35 people in total were checked and 14 cars were searched as part of the operation.
12 people were arrested for offences including drug trafficking, attempted carjacking, drug possession and outstanding warrants.
Detectives from the Brimbank Crime Investigation Unit attended an address in St Albans to conduct an FPO search. As part of the search, police seized the following items:
• An alleged stolen Subaru
• 320 grams of methyl amphetamine
• 7 litres of 1,4 Butanediol
• 1.3kg of cannabis
• Over $3,200 in cash
• Stolen identification documents
Two people were arrested, including a 37-year-old man and a 22-year-old female both from St Albans. The 37-year-old was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methyl amphetamine, trafficking a commercial quantity of GHB, theft of motor vehicle, possessing a drug of dependence and commit indictable offence while on bail. He was remanded in custody to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 27 July.
The 22-year-old woman was charged with trafficking methyl amphetamine, possess GHB and deal in the proceeds of crime. She was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on 1 November.
During another FPO search in Plumpton, officers from the Brimbank and Melton Offender Management Team found the person who was subject to the FPO to be complying with their conditions. However they located a quantity of cannabis allegedly belonging to the sibling of the person subject to an FPO. Officers subsequently charged a 24-year-old Plumpton man with trafficking cannabis, and he was remanded to present at court the next day.
The joint operation was conducted by police from the Brimbank and Melton Offender Management Team, the Divisional Response Unit, Crime Investigation Unit and North West Metro Regional Crime Squad.
Quotes attributable to Brimbank and Melton Divisional Commander, Superintendent Michael Cruse:
“Firearm Prohibition Orders are an important tool that make it difficult for these people to access, use and store firearms or be in areas where there are known to be firearms in order to keep the community safe.”
“We will continue to use all available methods at our disposal, including FPOs, in an effort to target serious and violent offenders and remove weapons from the hands of criminals, and place offenders before the courts.”
