Police have charged a 36-year-old Tullamarine man and seized a number of items as part of a targeted investigation.
Police seized three vehicles, including a Range Rover Sport, a RAM Laramie and a Mazda 3 which was previously stolen from an address in Essendon in December.
Additionally, officers seized a radio frequency jammer, a Rolex watch, approximately $28,000 cash, and drugs which police believe is cocaine.
The investigation has been ongoing, with a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance search initially conducted on Tuesday, January 10 at a residential address in Tullamarine.
According to police a further search of the seized vehicles was conducted over the following week, and on Wednesday, January 18 approximately 1kg of what appears to be ketamine was found concealed inside the Range Rover.
A 36-year-old Tullamarine man, who was not home when the initial FPO search was executed, was arrested by police on Friday, January 20.
He was subsequently charged with trafficking large commercial quantity – ketamine, two counts of deal property suspected proceeds of crimes, trafficking cocaine, possessing cannabis, possessing radio frequency jammer and the theft of motor vehicles.
The man has been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on April 14.
The investigation was conduced by the VIPER Taskforce – a tactical and investigative unit based within Crime Command focused on preventing, detecting, deterring, disrupting and dismantling the criminal activities of groups such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, organised crime networks, and street gangs.
The taskforce, which commenced in July 2022, supports the work of specialist investigation units and regional police by providing further investigation tactics and enforcement actions.
VIPER is an acronym for visibility, intelligence, prevention, enforcement and reassurance.
Anyone with information about organised criminal or illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
