Ten people arrested, drugs seized after coordinated raids across Melbourne
Police arrest alleged Melbourne drug king pin before several raids
AN ALLEGED drug king pin and several dealers operating a major Melbourne crime syndicate have been arrested in a series of dramatic police raids.
Operation Mergers, which Victoria Police say has put a “massive dent” in the supply of heroin and ice in the city, saw police issue 15 warrants in Carlton, Richmond, St Kilda, Balwyn North and Tullamarine.
At 10pm last night, 10 people had been arrested with more expected to follow in the early hours of the morning.
More than 150 police were involved in last night’s raids, which were seven months in the planning.
The 51-year-old alleged drug kingpin was arrested by police earlier in the evening at a business address in Tullamarine.
The man has been charged with traffic and possess methylamphetamine or ice, traffic and possess cocaine, prohibited person possessing a hand gun, possessing ammunition and deal property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He will attend Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
With their main target in police custody, the green light was given for police to launch simultaneous raids across the city targeting dealers under his direction.
Identified as a major source of drugs flooding the city, several apartments at the Drummond St housing commission flats in Carlton formed the focus of police attention.
Heavily armed Special Operations Group police and Critical Incident Response Team members were involved in the Carlton raids due to the fear that some of the targets may have had access to weapons and a propensity for violence.
Some of the flats were also heavily fortified to frustrate police and possessed their own covert CCTV surveillance systems.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Justin Mercovich, who led last night’s operation, said they sent a strong warning to drug dealers operating in the inner city.
“The community is saying enough is enough,” he said.
“We’re hearing what the community is telling us, and this is all about affecting long-term change.”
“Tonight we have targeted a criminal syndicate which we believe is playing a key role behind drug use and volume crime within this facility and in Richmond.”
“This is about tackling the core of the problem which will hopefully see a flow on affect in volume crime right across the inner city and beyond..
“Tonight’s co-ordinated raids send a clear message that Victoria Police will not tolerate drug dealing.”
Victoria St traders have long been campaigning for the introduction of CCTV in the street to stamp of the problem of dealers.
The Herald Sun secretetly photographed dealers at the notorious intersection of Victoria and Lennox Sts last week when we witnessed about 20 deals being carried out in just two hours.
Many of the dealers, some carrying satchels full of drugs and cash, openly touted for trade in the busy street, famous for its Asian eateries.
Yarra Inspector Dean McGowan said last night’s raids coincided with the start of a new police strategy on tackling drugs in the inner city.
“It is an issue that has outlasted the best of police intentions for some 20 years,” he said.
“The victims are local traders, their customers, and the wider community.
“The offenders commit drug, volume crime, robbery, assault and behavioural offences and more often than not are repeat offenders.
“Operations have come and gone, the best outcomes being short-term, lasting only as long as the operation itself.”
Operating under the cover of darkness
AS DARKNESS fell on a public housing estate in inner Melbourne, scores of heavily armed police prepared to send a strong message to the drug dealers heaping misery on the lives of inner city residents.
As families settled down to watch the Australian Open men’s tennis final or the cricket, more than 150 armed police were about to execute 15 warrants at addresses in Carlton, Richmond, St Kilda, Balwyn North and Tullamarine as part of Operation Mergers.
Much of the police’s focus fell on the Drummond St public housing commission flats in Carlton, earmarked last July as a hotbed for the supply of illicit drugs flooding the inner city.
Rather than just targeting the low level street dealers, police last night turned their attention to the bosses that control supply. One such Mr Big was the first target in last night’s co-ordinated raids.
Police have been monitoring his movements for some time and struck last night as he observed a typical Sunday night.
Just before 7.30pm, the 51-year-old man was arrested by the Special Operations Group as he arrived at his business address at Tullamarine.
With their prime target under arrest, the green light was given to strike at the underlings under his control.
A large convoy of police headed to the Carlton flats shortly before 9pm.
As officers swarmed up and down stairways of the 20-storey flats to locate their targets, a large crowd looked on in bemusement outside.
Using specialised techniques to breach heavily fortified doors, police simultaneously busted several apartments within the complex before arresting their prime suspects.
Police were expected to remain at the flats for several hours as they searched for evidence of drugs, weapons and cash.
Resident Alex Hughes, 24, said he was surprised by the dramatic police activity.
“I’ve seen chainsaws, demolition saws, I’ve never seen so many police,” he said.
“I heard it was some sort of drugs bust, but Richmond is way worse than this.
“I know residents are sick and tired of petty crime, I recently had my bike stolen.”
Mohammad Ali, 18, was outside the Carlton units with his friends when police arrived.
“I was pretty surprised — one of them came up to me and told me off recording him.
“I felt intimidated by him.
“There’s a lot of dealers and users here, it’s a real problem.
“It’s good that the police are targeting this area as it was pretty bad.”
Source:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...s/news-story/933d4ceef48e685760525bfef0df8d08
