POLICE have made further arrests as part of an investigation into an ice trafficking syndicate that allegedly supplied $2 million worth of drugs to the North East.
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Detectives this week charged a 31-year-old Beechworth man with trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis, and a 25-year-old Wangaratta man with trafficking methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine.
The syndicate had allegedly trafficked drugs widely throughout the North East, stretching from Albury-Wodonga to Myrtleford, Wangaratta and Yarrawonga.
Police have charged 44 people for drug, firearm and property related offences and expect to make further arrests.
“Our efforts are by no means finished,” Detective Leading Senior Constable Jason Bray said.
“The volume of evidence we’ve collected has led to these arrests, and is likely to lead to further enquiries and arrests.
“There are lots of people who are allegedly involved and we’re alleging the drugs trafficked exceeded $2 million.”
The two men arrested this week are alleged to have committed the offences between May and September 2014.
Senior Constable Bray said police had targeted drugs being sourced from Melbourne and brought to the North East.
“The arrests have had an impact on the availability of ice, which in turn has impact the incidence of serious crime,” he said.
“At the time the syndicate was operating we had significant numbers of firearms burglaries in the Wangaratta area.
“Since the arrests we’ve experienced none so it’s had a significant impact on that, and crime overall has dropped noticeably.
“The efforts and the police resources put into the investigation is reaping rewards.
“Hopefully the investigation has some sort of impact on preventing or deterring people from being involved in such activity.
“We’ve seen a big disruption to drug supply and crime, so the efforts have been very rewarding.”
The two men have been bailed to appear at the Wangaratta Magistrates Court on July 2.
