March 26th, 2023Police VIPER Taskforce seizes more than $1M worth of drugs

Officers from the VIPER Taskforce have seized over $1M worth of various drugs of dependence and charged two men in relation to the haul in recent days.

With assistance from the Major Drug Squad, Box Hill Divisional Response Unit and the Dog Squad, warrants were executed at a residential address and a storage facility in Box Hill on Tuesday morning, March 21.

Police seized traffickable quantities of what appear to be methylamphetamine and ketamine, large quantities of cocaine and heroin and a small quantity of 1,4-Butanediol, as well as other drug related paraphernalia.

The drugs have an estimated street value of over $1M.

Two men from Box Hill, a 37-year-old and a 35-year-old, were charged with two counts of traffick large commercial quantity drug of dependence.

The duo ad been remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday March 22, according to an earlier police report.

The VIPER Taskforce is a tactical and investigative unit based within Crime Command focused on preventing, detecting, deterring, disrupting and dismantling the criminal activities of groups such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, organised crime networks and street gangs.

The taskforce, which commenced in July 2022, supports the work of specialist investigation units and regional police by providing further investigation tactics and enforcement actions.

VIPER is an acronym for visibility, intelligence, prevention, enforcement and reassurance.

Anyone with information about organised criminal or illicit drug activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online via the Crime Stoppers website.