Police have made more than a dozen arrests as part of a three night operation targeting dangerous driving, police evades and other criminal activity in Moe, Morwell, and Traralgon last week.
Operation Black Kite, which ran each evening between Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 April, saw local frontline police and highway patrol officers teaming up with members from Victoria Police Air Wing, the K9 Unit, and local Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) detectives.
The roving patrols from the ground and the sky across the Latrobe region resulted in:
• The arrest of 15 people for a range of charges, including reckless conduct endangering life, drug trafficking, drug possession, possess proceeds of crime, and possess prohibited weapons.
• Five vehicles impounded, including a Holden SS Ute and three motorbikes including a Honda CBR 1000.
• One drug driver and one disqualified driver detected.
• Six Penalty Infringement Notices issued for road safety offences.
Among those arrested were:
• On Wednesday 13 April, a police patrol observed a male on a motorbike in Grey St in Traralgon. Police Air Wing followed the male and observed him allegedly travelling at speeds of around 150km/h along Old Melbourne Rd, Traralgon. Airwing followed him to his home address in Morwell, where he was arrested, searched and found in possession of around 17 grams of a substance believed to be methylamphetamine, 200ml of 1’4 butanediol, and more than $3,250 cash. Police seized the items and charged the 36-year-old man from Morwell with trafficking methylamphetamine and 1’4 butanediol, unlicenced driving and reckless conduct endangering life.
• The next morning (Thursday 14 April), police from Latrobe CIU attended the same property to execute a search warrant, as the 36-year-old Morwell man was already subject to a Firearm Prohibition Order. Upon a search of the property, police located six gel blasters, two tasers and multiple drugs including GHB, LSD, Methamphetamine, Amphetamine and Cannabis. The man, along with two other people at the property – a 36-year-old female and a 26-year-old male – were charged with a range of offences, including possessing an imitation firearm, possessing a prohibited weapon, and drug possession. All three were bailed to Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court at a later date.
• On Tuesday 12 April, an unmarked police vehicle observed a Black Mercedes Hatch travelling at speeds of around 120km/h down the Princes Highway in an 80km zone. The vehicle was intercepted on Princes Highway, Traralgon. Upon a search of the vehicle and its two occupants, police located around 15 grams of a substance believed to be cocaine and $2370 cash. A 25-year-old from Traralgon and a 23-year-old from Traralgon were arrested – the 23-year-old was charged with trafficking cocaine and the 25-year-old was charged with possessing cocaine. Both were bailed to Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court at a later date.
Quotes attributable to Sergeant Mark Smith, Morwell Police
“This operation was established following a number of recent incidents where vehicles have deliberately evaded police, putting other road users at risk due to their reckless, selfish and dangerous actions behind the wheel.
“Police simply won’t stand for this behaviour and the results from this operation speak for themselves – 15 people arrested who originally came to our attention due to dangerous and criminal activity on local roads.
“Many of these people are not only awaiting a court hearing with serious charges hanging over their heads, but five people also no longer have access to their vehicles – curbing their ability to cause further issues on our roads.
“These arrests were the result of strong collaboration between multiple police units who were responsible for bringing dangerous drivers and people using our roads for other forms of criminality before the courts to keep our community safe.
“Having the capabilities of specialist units such as the Police Air Wing and K9 Unit available for this operation meant there was no hiding for would-be offenders, with many of them ultimately leading us straight to their front door.”
