A TRARALGON man believed to be one of eastern Victoria’s main suppliers of amphetamines was arrested along with five others with a large quantity of methamphetamines with a street value in excess of $100,000.
Since the arrest of the six men in Melbourne earlier this month, 12 additional related warrants have been executed at Gippsland addresses where quantities of amphetamines, cannabis, firearms and property believed to be proceeds of crime have been seized.
According to Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Rob Ormerod, the Morwell Divisional Tasking Unit had been informed by New South Wales police a major suspect, 33 year-old Glenn McKinnell, had moved from Bombala to Traralgon several months ago.
“It was just a matter of tracking his movements and associates. Things came to a head on 1 June when three men were arrested by the Special Operations Group in Port Melbourne, and another three were arrested an hour later at Crown Casino,” Det Snr Const Ormerod said.
“They were charged with trafficking large commercial quantities, which is the highest drug trafficking offence.”
Det Snr Const Ormerod said the men were suspected of supplying drugs throughout the Latrobe Valley, to Cann River.
The other men are 31 year-old Jarrad Hepburn from New South Wales, 37 year-old Ricky Gaudie from the Australian Capital Territory, 20 year-old Byron Petkovic from Newborough, 20 year-old Jack Bacon from Stratford and 24 year-old Chance James from Lakes Entrance.
They are scheduled to appear in the County Court in the Latrobe Valley later this year.
