Police Beat with Tom Hayes, Blake Metcalf-Holt, and Katrina Brandon
Major drug bust
TWO men were arrested on Thursday, December 5, during a Major Drug Squad investigation into the cultivation of large commercial quantities of cannabis by a Vietnamese organised crime syndicate.
The VIPER Taskforce as well as Morwell, Springvale, Box Hill and Croydon Divisional Response Units executed seven warrants at an industrial premises in Morwell, three residential addresses in Springvale, a residential address in Mount Waverley, a storage facility in Hallam and a semi-rural property in Silvan.
Over the course of the investigation over 8500 cannabis plants have been seized, which would have a street value of over $30 million.
At least 400 plants being hydroponically cultivated were seized from the Morwell property.
A 40-year-old Springvale man, who police will allege was the leader of the syndicate, was charged with cultivating and trafficking large commercial quantity of cannabis. He will appear at court at a later date.
A 53-year-old Noble Park man is expected to be charged on summons in relation to the offence of cultivate large commercial quantity of cannabis.
Over 200 plants, a large commercial quantity, were located at the Silvan address.
Detectives also located a drying/packing location in Springvale which also had an electrical bypass.
A transport truck was also seized which police will allege was used to transport property between crop locations.
Investigators executed a warrant at a storage facility in Hallam which was used to store hydroponic equipment.
This week’s activity follows one of Victoria’s largest cannabis hauls in recent times – more than 6000 plants were seized in Leongatha South on Tuesday, October 22.
Plants located ranged from seedlings through to mature-sized plants weighing in at 1.7 tonnes.
It’s estimated the overall crop of 6525 plants would have a street value of more than $26 million.
Anyone with information on illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential report at confidential crime report at: crimestoppersvic.com.au
Fatal crash kills horses
THREE racehorses trained by a prominent Victorian stable have been killed in a fatal crash in southeast Victoria.
Cardinia Highway Patrol officers are investigating a crash in Bayles on Monday (December 2).
It is understood a Toyota Land Cruiser, which was towing a horse trailer, crashed on Tynong-Bayles Road around 9.50am.
Two horses died at the scene and one was seriously injured – eventually euthanised.
The driver, a 42-year-old Yallourn North man, was not injured and is assisting police with their enquiries.
He is expected to be charged on summons with driving offences.
The Herald Sun reported that the horses were trained by the Moody Racing stable.
Truck collision
THOSE travelling along the Princes Highway would have been forced to make plenty of late notices to work after an incident caused a large traffic pile-up the morning of December 3.
Latrobe Highway Patrol are investigating an incident involving two trucks which occurred near the Hernes Oak on ramp bound to Morwell.
It is believed the driver of a smaller truck was travelling on the Princes Highway when it collided into the back of another truck around 8am.
The male driver of the smaller truck sustained non-life threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital for treatment.
The male driver of the other truck was not injured and has been spoken to by police.
The cause of the collision is yet to be determined and investigations remain ongoing.
Vicroads reported the road being blocked off by local police and contractors at 9.50am before that side of the freeway was reopened at 10.40am.
Anyone who witnessed the collision, has dashcam footage or information is urged to contract Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at: crimestoppersvic.com.au
