MELBOURNE: More than $10 million worth of drugs has been seized from homes and businesses in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs.
Drug taskforce detectives said a “significant organised crime syndicate” was disrupted after 13 properties were raided in Braybrook, Sunshine West and Preston.
Nine people were arrested in the raids, which were part of Operation Kanji.
In the past four months, police have uncovered more than $10.6 million worth of drugs under Operation Kanji, which initially began as an investigation into a heroin trafficking syndicate.
Seizures have included 2800 cannabis plants and 25 kilograms of dried marijuana with a street value of $8 million; more than half a kilogram of heroin with a street value of $773,000; more than a kilogram of methamphetamine, also known as ice, worth $884,000; and more than $20,000 worth of cocaine.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said the Melbourne syndicate was “extremely well established” and “involved in a range of commodities”.
“Unfortunately we have a high demand for these types of illicit drugs in Victoria. Those who use and buy these substances need to know they are contributing to organised crime,” he said.
“The cannabis grow houses for example have the capacity to generate, for criminal syndicates, hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit every three months.
“We see every day the impact these drugs have on the people who use them, their families and the entire community and it’s a terrible toll.”
He appealed for members of the public with information about the production and distribution of illicit drugs to contact police.
“Whilst the operation and the warrants today have made a significant impact on the syndicate we still have more work to do and the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
