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INSIDE
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maroondahweekly.com.au
Bikies link to police drugs raid CROYDON police uncovered a pill-making machine, a machine pistol and more than $50,000 during drug raids in Bayswater last week. It was the third raid the Croydon divisional tasking unit had conducted within a week, all of them targeting a single drug operation. Police charged a Bayswater man with alleged links to the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang on Saturday then with further drug and firearm-related offences following last Monday’s raid.
The search, at a View Street address, netted $51,000 in cash, drug equipment and a machine pistol similar to a ‘uzi’ gun. Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland, of Croydon DTU, said the Bayswater man was believed to be an associate of a Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang member. Senior Sergeant Sutherland said the Bandidos member had arrived at the house under investigation while police were conducting an initial raid on Anzac Day. He was searched by police and not charged. The Anzac Day raid, where police seized guns, detonators and ecstasy to the value of
‘‘Police will continue ridding the eastern suburbs of illicit drugs.’’ — Detective Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland $125,00, was followed by a further search of a local storage facility the next day, when police found $25,000 worth of stolen property, explosives and a ‘pill press’ used to compress powder into uniform tablets. Senior Sergeant Sutherland said being in possession of a pill press carried its own separate charge.
‘‘They’re very hard to get. They usually come from China and are very difficult to get through Customs,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s viewed as a very serious matter because it has the propensity to indicate [drug] trafficking was of a commercial nature.’’ He said police had charged ‘‘lots of offenders in the past month’’ related to drug charges and these three consecutive operations proved that police have further work to do. ‘‘When you get two hand guns, a machine pistol, a commercial quantity of ecstasy, around $30,000 of stolen items and a pill press you’d say it [the operation] was a success.’’
New initiatives in autism education. Page 11
PICTURE: ROB CAREW
7 11 14 20
Let’s all have a go
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Feature story Stepping into the ring with cage fighters
Sport All the EFL action from the weekend
G5725184AB-a5Mar©FCNVIC
SPORTS clubs across Knox, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges last week opened their doors to young adults of all abilities. Sports Week was organised by Interchange OuterEast, a not-for-profit community organisation providing services to families of children and young adults with disabilities. It was supported by sports groups, such as the Bayswater Bowls Club, where Elisha (left) learned the rules of lawn bowls with Interchange support worker Jess Ball. Participants had a go at 24 events, including windsurfing, yoga and tennis.
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Shop 13/91 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark Phone: 9726 7284
G4194912AC-dp25Jul
BY DAVID SCHOUT
COVER: Billanook College student Laura Schutz is turning her keen interest in photography into a business. Story page 8. Picture: Rob Carew
‘‘ May 7, 2013 WEEKLY – YOUR COMMUNITY VOICE
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