Police have seized a loaded handgun along with trafficable quantities of methylamphetamine in a dawn raid in Melbourne’s suburbs on Friday.
A 62-year-old man was arrested and charged over the stash.
Footage of the precision raid shows officers gathering out the front of a nondescript apartment in Mordialloc.
A police siren is used to wake occupants as around 10 officers file inside.
A search revealed roughly 30 grams of meth, five grams of ketamine, anabolic steroids and precursor chemicals for making illegal drugs.
Officers also found a loaded handgun, firearm parts, ammunition and $26,000 cash.
The man, who was home at the time, was charged with various counts of trafficking a drug of dependence, possess handgun, possess ammunition, possess prohibited weapon and possessing property being proceeds of a crime.
“Arrests such as these should serve as a stark reminder of the life changing repercussions associated with drug dealing,” Caulfield Divisional Response Unit (DRU) Acting Detective Sergeant Wes Yarnton said.
“Every single day someone chooses to traffick drugs they are engaging in a dangerous game of roulette. Sooner or later, they will receive a knock on the door from police and at this point, the realisation quickly dawns that they have made a decision that has ruined their life.
“Up to 15 years in a prison cell is a long way removed from the easy money they have been chasing, while police will have absolutely no hesitation seizing every dollar, piece of property, or vehicle that has been gained by profiting off the addiction of others.”
The raid was the result of a six-month investigation into drug trafficking, dubbed Operation Miami.
It is the second significant drug bust by the Caulfield DRU in just three days.
The same group of detectives arrested two alleged drug traffickers on Wednesday, with nearly a million dollars and more than $360,000 in methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
“During the course of this week, the Caulfield DRU has removed more than $380,000 of methylamphetamine, heroin and cocaine from Victorian streets, seized more than $1.1 million in allegedly ill-gottexjmtzywn cash, and arrested three people for trafficking.”
“Our experienced and dedicated detectives are working together with other specialist and regional areas to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks, and most importantly, stop drugs from hitting Victorian streets.”
