By Laura Michell
A 22-year-old Dallas man has been charged with 26 offences following an investigation into the alleged trafficking of firearms and illegal fireworks.
The man was charged with offences including possessing explosive substance, transporting explosive substance and possessing proceeds of crime on Wednesday, July 20.
He was bailed to face Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on September 2.
His arrest follows police searches of two properties in Craigieburn and three properties in Campbellfield in February, and a further two Craigieburn properties and one Campbellfield property in May.
In May, a 38-year-old Craigieburn man was charged with 95 offences, including 37 counts of possessing explosive substance, possessing traffickable quantity firearms, possessing unregistered handgun, possessing unregistered firearm, possessing prohibited weapon and dealing with property suspected proceeds of crime.
He was previously charged on February 14 with five charges, including possessing explosives and selling explosives, police said.
He will appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on September 2.
A 34-year-old Craigieburn man was charged in February with a range of offences including possessing explosives.
He was also bailed to face Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on September 2.
A 39-year-old Brunswick East man was released pending further inquiries.
Arson and explosive squad Detective Inspector Steve Soden said police seized a large amount of illegal commercial fireworks as part of the operation.
“Commercial fireworks are classed as a type of explosive and banned for use by the general public because they are extremely dangerous in untrained hands,” he said.
“Alongside the risk of serious injury or death, fireworks are unpredictable and volatile items that can result in fires – both grassfires and bushfires – as well as causing substantial property damage.
“It has been a huge amount of work by the arson and explosives squad – these seizures have prevented a great amount of possible harm to the community.”
