Police patrol
with Brodie Cowburn
Multi-million dollar drug bust THREE people from Frankston were among twenty people arrested as part of a year-long police investigation into alleged drug trafficking. Police say they had been investigating alleged trafficking of methylamphetamine, cocaine and 1,4 butanediol. Over the course of their investigation they allegedly seized millions of dollars worth of methylamphetamine, traffickable amounts of cocaine, prescription medicines, thousands of steroid tablets, a homemade machine gun, around $650,000 in cash, and three cars. On 18 November police charged a 32-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman from Frankston with trafficking methylamphetamine, cocaine and 1,4 butanol, as well as committing an indictable offence while on bail. Both were bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates Court on 26 April 2022. On 20 July, police arrested a 28-yearold Balnarring man and 36-year-old Frankston man near Wodonga after allegedly finding more than 15 kgs of methylamphetamine in their car. Both men were charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence. Among the other people arrested were a 32-year-old Keysborough man, charged with trafficking 1,4 butanediol, possession of ammunition, steroids, and the proceeds of crime, a 35-year-old Cranbourne man, charged with trafficking methylamphetamine and cocaine, as well as dealing with the proceeds of
crime, and a 26-year old Clarinda man, charged with possession of a handgun, possessing a firearm while person has been issued with a prohibition firearms order, drug offences and committing an indictable offence while on bail. On 23 November police swooped on more alleged offenders, raiding homes in Clarinda, East Brighton, Keysborough, Langwarrin, Port Melbourne, Cranbourne, Skye, Brighton and Frankston. Southern Metropolitan Region Commander Therese Fitzgerald said the Caulfield DRU has spent “large parts of the past twelve months painstakingly working on a plan to dismantle this organised crime syndicate, seize significant amounts of drugs, and ultimately, make our community a safer place.” “We now have a significant number of people with incredibly serious drug charges hanging over their heads – these people may have set out with images of easy money in their eyes, but they are now staring at the harsh reality of many years confined to a prison cell,” she said. “If you think you can make a quick dollar dealing drugs, think again. We have dedicated teams of detectives across the entire state keeping a close eye on you– whether you’re the head of a syndicate or a lowly drug runner, you will be caught. “If these drugs had made it to the streets, they would have caused untold damage, while their sale would have funded further criminal enterprises. Instead these substances will be destroyed without reaching a single drug user or fattening the wallet of an alleged dealer. Operations such as these not only destroy the financial foundations
that criminals are built upon, but they are equally as damaging in fracturing relationships and social connections between drug distributors in the community.”
Gun charges A MAN has been charged for allegedly trying to manufacture a gun in Frankston. At 8am on 24 November, police raided a home on Skye Road in Frankston. Inside they allegedly found a drill press, lathe machine and various firearms parts including springs, stocks and barrels. Police have charged a 45-year-old Frankston man with possess firearm parts for purpose of manufacture and breach firearm prohibition order. A 42-year-old Carrum Downs woman was also charged following the police search warrant. She was charged with possess drug of dependence and was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Refused breath test A FRANKSTON woman who refused an evidentiary breath test is expected to be charged. Police say they pulled over a red Mazda sedan on Skye Road when they saw it without headlights on at around 11pm on 24 November. The 39-year-old Skye woman underwent a roadside breath test, but police say she would not accompany them back to the station for an evidentiary breath test. Police say they will charge her with a number of drink-driving offences.
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Frankston Times
30 November 2021
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