Drug swoop

By Nicole Williams
MORE than 1500 cannabis plants – with a street value of $3.7 million – were snared in Greater Dandenong on Tuesday.
Six people have been charged with drug related offences as a result of the operation.
Police from across the south eastern suburbs and the Drug Squad executed simultaneous warrants on 12 properties in Dandenong, Springvale, Keysborough, Carrum Downs, Clarinda and Mulgrave at 7.20am.
Superintendent Derek Lamb from the Southern Metropolitan Region described it as a “great result” after a long investigation.
“This has been a really good day for the people in the community because it means a potential $3.7 million of cannabis won’t be on our streets – which may have been had these raids not taken place,” he said.
“This disrupts the activities of people who manufacture and distribute drugs in this area.”
Nine of the 12 properties raided were identified as hydroponic houses. A significant amount of hydroponic equipment was seized.
Supt Lamb said drug use was up across the district.
“It’s a significant problem across the state, but in terms of the increase in manufacture and cultivation (of all drugs), there has been a 53 per cent increase in this division,” he said.
“And there has been a 46 per cent increase in drug use.
“We are driven by action and are mindful that the manufacture and drug use (all drugs) drives other crime.”
Six people have been charged with drug related offences, including a 42-year-old Mulgrave woman who has been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis, nine counts of cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, 10 counts of trafficing a large commercial quantity of cannabis and 10 counts of theft.
A 72-year-old Noble Park man has been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis, nine counts of cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficing a large commercial quantity of cannabis and 10 counts of theft.
A 40-year-old central Melbourne woman has been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and four counts of cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis.
Police also charged a 26-year-old man and a 42-year-old man, both from Keysborough, with cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis and trafficing a commercial quantity of cannabis.
A 38-year-old man from Springvale was charged with cultivating and trafficing cannabis.