CANBERRA, ACT, Sept. 22 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
This is a joint Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police media release
Editor's note:Images of seized items available via Hightail.
A Melbourne-based criminal syndicate with alleged links to organised crime has been dismantled, with three men charged over the cultivation and trafficking of illicit drugs.
A Keilor Park man, 35,an Albion man, 28, and an Echuca man, 54,were charged after allegedly being linked to the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis and other illicit drugs. A Fraser Rise man, 39, was arrested but later released pending further inquiries.
The AFP and Victoria Police launched an investigation in November, 2024, into a suspected criminal syndicate allegedly trafficking significant quantities of illicit drugs into Australia.
The men were arrested on Friday (19 September, 2025) after AFP and Victoria Police members executed a series of search warrants at commercial and residential properties across Victoria, including Keilor, Fraiser Rise, Albion, Keilor Park, Laverton North, Mill Park, Sunshine North and in the regional town of Echuca. Investigators seized more than $200K in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime, small quantities of cocaine in pre-prepared deal bags, an imitation firearm, drug paraphernalia and multiple dedicated encrypted communication devices.
During the execution of a search warrant at commercial warehouses in Mill Park and Laverton North, police allegedly found cannabis cultivation facilities enclosed inside industrial shipping containers, including sophisticated hydroponic equipment. Approximately 86 mature cannabis plants and an estimated 25kg of dried cannabis was seized across the two sites.
Further forensic testing will determine their exact weight and composition of the plants.
The potential estimated street value of the seized mature cannabis plants equates to approximately $129,000. The dried hydroponic cannabis has an estimated potential street value of more than $560,000.
The Keilor Park man, 35, is expected to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 22 September, 2025, charged with:
* One count of cultivating a narcotic plant, namely cannabis, in a quantity that is not less than a commercial quantity applicable to that narcotic plant, contrary to section 72(A) of the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria).
The Albion man, 28, is expected to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 22 September, 2025, charged with:
* One count of cultivating a narcotic plant, namely cannabis, in a quantity that is not less than a commercial quantity applicable to that narcotic plant, contrary to section 72(A) of the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria);* One count of trafficking a drug of dependence, namely cannabis, in a quantity that is not less than a commercial quantity applicable to that drug, contrary to section 71AA of the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria); and
* One count of possessing a drug of dependence, namely cannabis, contrary to section 73 of the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria).
The Echuca man, 54, is expected to appear before the Echuca Magistrates Court on 16 December, 2025, charged with:
* One count oftrafficking a drug of dependence, contrary to section 71AC of the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Victoria)
Further arrests are expected as part of the investigation.
AFP Acting Commander Raymond Imbriano said this investigation demonstrated the commitment of the AFP to combat organised crime and illicit drug trafficking.
"We are committed to reducing the threat posed by organised crime to the lives, welfare and hip pockets of Australians and ensuring we keep Victoria as hostile an environment as possible for anyone seeking to profit from the misery caused by illicit drugs," a/Commander Imbriano said.
"I want to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all the AFP members involved in these investigations, from investigators and intelligence members to all other support capabilities. Thank you for all you do, day-in, day-out, to keep the community safe.
"I also wish to thank our partners at Victoria Police, in particular the Botany Unit, for their specialist and expert assistance in responding to the significant quantities of cannabis seized during the operation."
Victoria Police Superintendent Matt Volk, Organised Crime Division, said the seizure was a great result and a reminder to organised crime groups that Victoria Police remained focused on stopping illicit drugs from entering the community.
"Victoria Police has zero tolerance for those bringing harm to our community by importing and trafficking drugs of any type. We will continue to target these syndicates in any and every way possible," Supt Volk said.
"Our work does not stopwith this seizure and these arrests. Alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to disrupt the importation of illicit drugs into Victoria."
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
