By JESSE GRAHAM
FOUR HEALESVILLE residents will front court in October after drug raids at four properties last week.
Police from Healesville, Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) and Croydon Divisional Tasking Unit raided two Don Road properties, a Maroondah Highway property and a Joffre Road property before 9am on Thursday, 11 June.
Healesville Police Sergeant Stewart Thomson said the raids were conducted as part of a local investigation on ice (crystal methamphetamine), which also involved the Police Dog Squad.
“Basically, the situation is that, as the result of an ongoing local drug investigation, four search warrants were conducted in the Healesville area,” Sgt Thomson said.
“As a result of the warrants, a number of drugs, paraphernalia, stolen property and firearms were seized.”
After the raids, a 39-year-old Healesville man was charged with use and possession of a drug of dependence, proceeds of crime and handling stolen goods.
A 25-year-old Healesville woman was charged with the possession and trafficking of a drug of dependence, while a 25-year-old Healesville man has been charged with possession and trafficking a drug of dependence, handling stolen goods and proceeds of crime.
A 20-year-old Healesville man was charged with firearms offences.
All three the drug offences were in relation to ice, but Sgt Thomson said drugs were not found at all of the properties searched.
Cannabis was also found during the searches.
The four will appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on 16 October – three of the group were bailed, but the 25-year-old Healesville man has been remanded in custody.
Sgt Thomson said about 25 police officers were involved in the raids, which are linked to other raids carried out on 28 May in Yellingbo and 29 May in Healesville.
On 28 May, police executed a warrant on Sheep Station Creek Road in Yellingbo, where a 47-year-old Yellingbo man was charged with use and trafficking a drug of dependence and proceeds of crime.
A 49-year-old Yellingbo man was also charged with firearms offences, possession of a drug of dependence and proceeds of crime, while a 24-year-old Cockatoo woman was charged with use and possession of a drug of dependence and handle stolen goods.
The next day, police executed a warrant at a Wattles Court property in Healesville, where a 25-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man were charged with possessing and trafficking a drug of dependence.
All of the drugs charges at the 28 and 29 May raids related to ice, and all of those arrested were bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court later in the year.
He said that police had a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to drug use and offences, and urged members of the public to continue providing information to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through the local station.
“Don’t accept it in your own backyard – be pro-active,” Sgt Thomson said.
“With the assistance of the local public, we were able to gather a good intelligence pool that led us to the end result.
“I want the public to keep calling us up, and knowing that if they’ve got information that’s validated, we’ll act on it – we take your concerns seriously.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson said on Thursday that police would be continuing their investigations.
Crime reports can be made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
