By Brendan Rees
A 35-year-old Longwarry man has been arrested after police swooped on properties across the South East where firearms, drugs, and luxurious cars were seized.
In a series of dawn raids, officers from several specialist units including the heavily armed Special Operations Group arrested 10 people on Wednesday 17 April.
Five people have been charged following nine warrants which were executed at Bentleigh East, Oakleigh South, Moorabbin, Glen Iris, and Longwarry as part of Operation Dante.
The Longwarry man was charged with possess methylamphetamine, prohibited person in possession of firearm, and breach CCO. He is expected to face the Morwell Magistrates on Thursday 18 April.
Police seized a number of items about 16kgs of methylamphetamine, about half a kilogram of MDMA which with a street value of more than $160,000, a quantity of unknown powder, and steroids.
A red Ferrari California T coupe was also seized along with a 2017 Mercedes Benz C63, Holden Commodore ute, a BMW X5, a 2015 Jeep, two jet skis, and a motorcycle.
A dismantled firearm and eight operating firearms, and a significant amount of cash were among other items seized.
The methylamphetamine could have been worth $3 million dollars had they reached the streets, police say.
“We’re very, very pleased and proud of the outcome,” Superintendent Sharon McKinnon said.
“Organised crime is operating and that’s why we continue to build upon our capabilities.”
“Whilst we’ve shut down a significant syndicate today what we say is there will be more out there operating so we actually rely on the community to let us know these people,” she added.
Operation Dante has been running for about 12 months tracking criminals trafficking and manufacturing methylamphetamine.
The Divisional Response Unit were supported by a number of other units including the Critical Incident Response Team, general duties police, detectives from a number of crime investigation units, Frontline Tasking Unit, Southern Metro Crime Team and Clan Labs.
