Echo Taskforce detectives on Thursday charged six people, one a former patched member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG). They seized four firearms, two imitation firearms and various drugs of dependence following an investigation in drug and firearm trafficking in Melbourne.
Members from the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) arrested a 26-year-old Melton at his home address around 7am on Thursday, April 3.
With assistance from the VIPER Taskforce, North West Metro Regional Crime Squad, Melton Crime Investigation Unit and Dog Squad, five simultaneous search warrants were then executed at 7am at residential addresses in Melton and Diggers Rest.
Six people were arrested, including:
- A 26-year-old Melton man, a former patched member of the Rebels OMCG, was charged with two counts of trafficking large commercial quantity drugs of dependence (GHB and methylamphetamine) and possession of proceeds of crime.
- A 51-year-old Melton man was charged with two counts of trafficking large commercial quantity GHB, possession of drugs of dependence and possession of proceeds of crime.
- A 47-year-old Melton woman who was charged with trafficking large commercial quantity GHB and cultivating cannabis,
- A 30-year-old Diggers Rest man was charged with the possession of traffickable quantity firearms, ammunition and an imitation firearm.
The 30-year-old Diggers Rest man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last night and was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on May 8.
The other three appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
- A 34-year-old Melton man was charged with possessing cocaine and possessing proceeds of crime. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 29.
- A 48-year-old Melton man was charged with cultivating cannabis.
He was bailed to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on August 1.
During the eight-month investigation, 49 litres of GHB and six ounces of methylamphetamine were seized.
Investigators seized one shotgun, two rifles, a modified revolver, an assault rifle gel blaster, ammunition, four rifle scopes, two firearm magazines and a large quantity of unknown tablets from the Diggers Rest address.
A gel blaster, quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis, a quantity of cash, an Autel device and false registration plate were seized from on the of the Melton addresses.
A small quantity of cocaine, four litres of GHB, small quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis, large quantities of green vegetable matter, cash, and eight marijuana plants were seized from the other three Melton addresses.
