Seven people were arrested and hundreds of vehicles were checked over the weekend as part of a police operation designed to disrupt organised crime and the transport of drugs and weapons on the road network in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Over three nights from August 19-21, police saturated Melbourne’s northern suburbs and used Automatic Numberplate Recognition (ANPR) Technology to identify people with links to serious crimes, subject to Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPOs) or with a history of dangerous driving behaviour.
Over 25,300 vehicles were scanned by ANPR technology throughout the operation, with 80 vehicles linked to organised crime checked by police.
Approximately 1800 other checks occurred throughout the operation, including vehicles that had outstanding driving matters.
Vehicles travelling along major arterials and main roads across suburbs including Broadmeadows, Coburg, Craigieburn, Fawkner, Glenroy and Tullamarine were the focus of the operation.
As a result of ANPR scanning, the following offences were identified:
• A blue Audi sedan was intercepted at the intersection of Ripplebrook Drive and Johnstone Street, Jacana on Saturday night. Police conducted a search of the vehicle, locating a quantity of what is believed to be cocaine and an imitation firearm. The driver was subsequently charged with weapon and drug offences;
• A Mercedes coupe was intercepted in Maffra Street, Coolaroo on Saturday evening. The driver was identified as an alleged disqualified driver and returned a positive roadside drug test. The car was impounded by police, and the male driver is expected to be charged on summons with driving offences;
• Police attempted to intercept a blue Toyota Camry on Sydney Road, just before midnight on Sunday. The vehicle came to a stop, but when officers started to exit their car, the driver allegedly drove off at high speed, up to approximately 80km/h. The Air Wing observed the vehicle from above and tracked it to Rose Street where the three occupants fled the vehicle and walked away. Police attended Rose Street and arrested two females in the street, and a male who was allegedly attempting to hide from police in a front yard.
A 32-year-old woman, the alleged driver, was charged with a range of serious driving offences including evade police. A 42-year-old man was also charged with drug possession; and
• Air Wing observed a motorcycle travelling at high speed on Cooper Street in Epping on Friday evening. The motorcycle was tracked to a service station on Sunraysia Drive where police units arrived. The motorcycle was impounded by police and the rider is expected to be charged on summons for serious traffic offences.
