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Two men will appear in court today after police completed the largest allegedly illegal steroid seizure in Victorian history on Friday.
Victoria Police allege the pair, aged 27 and 32, ran a criminal syndicate that bought drugs from an overseas supplier before selling them online and through a Port Melbourne gym.
The steroids and prescription medications seized are worth millions of dollars and the syndicate counted organised crime identities among its hundreds of customers, police say.
The amount of drugs seized during the raid on the pair’s Docklands apartments building about 8am Friday was so large detectives will have to return to the address on Saturday to load the evidence into trucks.
“We’ve uncovered a sophisticated drug distribution centre – the biggest of its kind in Victoria,” Detective Inspector Patrick Watkinson said.
“What caught our attention is that they’re allegedly selling drugs to organised crime figures and not only profiting heavily from it but also facilitating their luxury lifestyle.”
Police arrested a man in Docklands on Friday relating to what police call the biggest steroid seizure in Victorian history.Credit: Victoria Police
Watkinson said a seven-month investigation uncovered an organised syndicate that used transport logistics to distribute the illegal steroids across the eastern seaboard.
The two alleged offenders were charged with offences including trafficking a commercial quantity of prescription medication, trafficking anabolic steroids, trafficking diazepam and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Investigators executed four other search warrants across inner Melbourne with assistance from VIPER Taskforce, including a raid on the Port Melbourne gym that also uncovered a large amount of illegal steroids. About $45,000 in cash and illegal steroids were seized at a Flemington property.
ACT Police also arrested several people allegedly involved in the syndicate on Friday.
The pair arrested in Docklands will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
“This work is about limiting the networks and connections of organised crime figures. We want those causing harm in our community to feel the pressure from all angles,” Watkinson said.
“Finally – medication should be supplied by accredited doctors and pharmacists, not personal trainers at a gym.”
A 37-year-old Docklands woman also arrested during Friday’s raids was charged for possessing methylamphetamine.
Meanwhile, police seized more than half a tonne of illegal loose-leaf tobacco disguised as tea during separate raids across Melbourne’s south-east on Wednesday.
A 32-year-old man was arrested after the search warrants were executed at an Oakleigh South storage unit and apartments in Burwood East and Caulfield North.
“During the searches, detectives located and seized 600kg of loose-leaf tobacco in several boxes allegedly made to look like tea leaves, as well as 725,000 cigarettes and more than $94,000,” police said in a statement on Saturday.
The man was charged with possessing tobacco product with the intent of defrauding revenue, knowingly possessing smuggled goods, importing border-controlled plants, and negligently and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.
Anyone with information about illicit drug trafficking is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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