Detectives from the Trident Taskforce arrested two people and seized significant quantities of GBL and 1,4 Butanediol as part of a joint drug trafficking investigation.
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The operation, which involved Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, and Australian Border Force personnel, commenced earlier this month after 600kg of border-controlled substance Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL) was detected hidden inside an incoming sea cargo consignment.
Two further attempted imports of 1,4 Butanediol were also detected by Australian Border Force as part of the investigation and seized. The chemicals are valued at over $700,000.
On July 29, investigators executed a search warrant at Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne and arrested a 28-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman. Police seized a number of items from the three addresses including two firearms, cash, drugs, pre-cursor chemicals and laboratory equipment.
The man has been charged with a number of state and Commonwealth offences including import border controlled drug, attempt to possess commercial quantity of border controlled drug, and attempt to possess drug of dependence – large commercial quantity.
The woman has been charged with a number of state and Commonwealth offences including attempt to traffic drug of dependence – large commercial quantity, attempt to possess drug of dependence – large commercial quantity and bail offences.
Both appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on July 30, and were remanded to appear again on 16 November.
Trident Taskforce Detective Inspector Craig Darlow also commented on the operation. “Australian Border Force (ABF) detected a number of consignments that led to these significant seizures, resulting in an extremely large quantity of harmful drugs being prevented from entering the community.
“We see the damage these drugs do in the Victorian community so to be able to make this seizure with our law enforcement partners and hold people to account is really pleasing. We’re also again seeing the seizure of guns during a drug investigation, which again highlights the strong links between illicit drugs and firearms.†■