Detective Senior Constable Guy Matheson from Narre Warren police station with some of the cannabis plants seized during several raids on properties in the City of Casey. 30097 Picture: Meagan Rogers
POLICE have seized more than $10 million worth of assets during several drug raids in the City of Casey, in one of the biggest seizures in the state’s history.
Police executed 11 warrants on a number of properties in Casey, which resulted in the seizure of about 1700 cannabis plants, a substantial amount of money and other assets.
The latest raids follow an almost year-long police investigation.
Eight people have been arrested and were due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) charged with cultivating, trafficking, and possessing a commercial quantity of drugs; conspiracy to cultivate, traffic and possess large quantity of drugs; and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime and theft. The assets have been seized as part of an ongoing investigation, with police making applications to seize a number of properties in Victoria, including residential homes.
Police raided a house along Lighthorse Court in Narre Warren South on Tuesday.
Narre Warren resident Paul Navarra said he saw police raid a property in Claire Court, Narre Warren on the same day.
“Police had been setting up surveillance in the area. We noticed undercover police walking through the court every week, sometimes even every day,” he said. “I never expected anything like that to happen in my court,” he said. “It freaks me out as my kids play in the street.”
The investigation, which involved detectives from the Drug Taskforce, Criminal Proceeds Squad and Casey Regional Response and Crime Investigation Units, was launched in mid-2008.
Assistant Commissioner for Crime Dannye Moloney said the intelligence-led, complex investigation showed that police were serious about stopping criminal activity in the state. “We do not accept criminals coming to our state … and police will continue to target and prosecute them,” he said.
– Kelly Yates
