January 12th, 2024Commercial quantity of drugs and cash seized

Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives have seized a commercial quantity of drugs and a substantial amount of cash from a hotel in Melbourne East in recent days.

Detectives, with assistance from the Special Operations Group and members from Fugitive Squad, attended the Parliament Place property on Thursday 4 January about 1.45pm, as part of an investigation into an alleged extortion.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the property and a warrant executed before a search of the premises uncovered a large quantity of alleged ketamine, butane, suspected methylamphetamine, heroin and other substances yet to be determined as well as over $50,000 in cash.

The man of no fixed place of abode has been charged with various offences including:

• extortion

• threat to kill, injure or endanger life

• assault with a weapon

• prohibited person possess firearm

• traffick and possess methylamphetamine

• possess drug of dependence

• knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and

• fail to comply with direction to assist.

He had been remanded to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Friday January 5.