A $40,000 bag of cocaine was allegedly tossed out of a high-rise apartment during a police raid targeting a suspected Melbourne drug ring.
Victoria Police said more than $1.4m worth of drugs and proceeds of crime were seized during the raids which resulted in 13 people being arrested in the sting across Melbourne suburbs.
As police entered one of the properties on Bowen Crescent in Melbourne, a 100g bag of cocaine was allegedly thrown from an apartment narrowly missing investigators on the ground.
Victoria Police said a 1kg bag of cocaine worth about $400,000 and 520g of ketamine worth $156,00, along with other drugs including meth and cannabis, were seized during the raids.
Luxury cars, Rolex watches, an imitation gun, cash, silver bullion and identification documents in other names were also taken by police.
A 10-month investigation by Prahran Divisional Response Unit detectives allegedly uncovered the ring, which is accused of trafficking various drugs across Melbourne.
Police raided properties and vehicles across Melbourne, South Yarra, Richmond, Hawthorn, Flemington, Ascot Vale, North Melbourne and Tullamarine on Monday.
Eight people were charged with trafficking commercial quantities of cocaine and ketamine, which carries a maximum of 25 years in prison.
Prahran Divisional Response Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Moreland said Victoria Police had detectives in every part of the state intent on bringing down those who caused the most drug related harm in the community.
“The key lesson from investigations such as these is there is no such thing as easy drug money,” he said.
“A lavish lifestyle funded by drugs can change in the blink of an eye to several years in a prison cell.
“We also don’t stop once the arrests have been made – we seek the forfeiture of all proceeds of crime, so if an offender leaves prison intending to recommence trafficking, they won’t do so from a position of financial strength.”
Three men from Melbourne aged 35, 36 and 41 years old are now facing trafficking charges along with two women aged 35 and 67.
A 32-year old man from Ascot Vale, a 34-year old woman from South Yarra and a 30-year old man from West Melbourne are also facing similar charges.
https://thewest.com.au/news/40k-bag-of-coke-allegedly-thrown-out-of-high-rise-during-a-drug-raid-in-melbourne-c-16682913
