A Newport man is facing dozens of drugs and weapons charges after raids conducted by VIPER Taskforce detectives on Monday.
Two search warrants were executed at residential addresses in Newport and Docklands on 19 January where officers seized body armour, OC spray, a firearm, cash, drugs, weapons, Rolex watches and taser pens as part of an investigation into firearms trafficking linked to serious and organised crime.
The raids came about after police received information in December last year suggesting firearms were being stored and drugs trafficked out of an address in Newport.
During a search of the Newport address on Monday, police seized a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, a loaded Colt 41 revolver with six rounds of .41 calibre ammunition, 12 cans of OC spray, five body armour vests, varying quantities of GHB, steroids, MDMA, a stamp for a doctor (general practitioner) and various knives and knuckledusters.
A search of the Docklands address located a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, traffickable quantities of cannabis, ketamine, cocaine and MDMA, 20 taser pens, two Rolex watches, a quantity of cash and varying quantities of Xanax, Oxycodone, Valium, ecstasy and other prescription drugs.
A 31-year-old Newport man was charged with a total of 26 offences, including two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine; possession of an unregistered handgun; trafficking in drugs of dependence including cannabis, cocaine, ketamine and MDMA; possession of GHB; 11 counts of possession of prescription medication; dealing the suspected proceeds of crime; three counts of possessing prohibited weapons, as well as charges for possessing unlicensed body armour and ammunition, unlicensed driving and failing to assist police under warrant.
He was remanded overnight to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 January.
Two people, a 25-year-old man from Brighton and a 25-year-old woman from Sandringham, attended the Dockland address during the search warrant.
Police searching the man located a flick knife and a homemade taser, while the woman was found to be in possession of Xanax tablets.
Both are expected to be charged on summons.
