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This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police.

The AFP has charged three alleged members of an Australian organised crime syndicate suspected of manufacturing large quantities of methamphetamine, after the discovery of a clandestine laboratory in a Melbourne factory.

The AFP, together with assistance from Victoria Police, arrested a third man, 30, at Keilor Park on Thursday morning (7 December, 2023) under Operation Tate.

The latest arrest is a result of the ongoing three-month investigation into the alleged importation and manufacture of methamphetamine in Australia, where two other men were also arrested in Melbourne in October this year.

On 20 October 2023, Victoria Police executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Epping believe to be linked to the syndicate, where a clandestine laboratory allegedly producing methamphetamine was discovered.

Police allegedly located and seized 60kg of methamphetamine inside the warehouse. This amount of methamphetamine has an estimated street value of $60 million dollars, and is the equivalent of 600,000 individual street deals.

Victoria Police’s Clandestine Laboratory Squad, Forensic Chemist and Disaster Victim Identification Unit dismantled the laboratory before the AFP seized the illicit drugs, along with chemicals involved in the manufacture and extraction of methamphetamine.

AFP and Victoria Police members arrested a Thomastown man, 36, at Epping and a Westmeadows man, 33, at Airport West on Friday 20 October, 2023.

Both men were arrested and charged with:

• Possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug reasonably suspected to have been imported, contrary to section 307.8(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
• Manufacturing a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, contrary to section 305.3(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

Both charges hold a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The pair faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday 23 October, 2023, where they were bailed to reappear before court in March 2024.

In December, Victoria Police forensics allegedly identified the fingerprints of a 30-year-old Keilor Park man, on items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine at the clandestine laboratory allegedly operated by the syndicate.

The AFP executed search warrants at Keilor Park and Mill Park on Thursday 7 December, 2023, where the man was arrested with a quantity of cannabis allegedly seized.

The Keilor Park man was also charged with possessing and manufacturing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and possession of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs reasonably suspected to have been imported.

The man faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (7 December, 2023) and was bailed to reappear before court in March 2024.

Investigations into the origin of the methamphetamine and how they reached Australia remain ongoing.

AFP Detective Inspector Rick Briggs said Australian law enforcement agencies were united in the fight against organised crime.

“Through our combined commitment to combatting drug trafficking, the AFP and our partner agencies continue to work across jurisdictions and borders to deal significant blows to criminal syndicates,” Det-Insp Briggs said.

“This investigation has stopped a production line of methamphetamine from hitting Australian streets, and prevented millions of dollars of drug profit flowing back into the syndicate to fund their next criminal venture.

“Criminal syndicates involved in drug importations do not care about the harm they cause to Australian communities –from the violence between rival dealers that put innocent communities at risk, to the drug driving crashes and the thousands of methamphetamine related hospital admissions.

“The AFP is working tirelessly with partners to make Australia a hostile environment to these criminal syndicates, to protect the Australian community.”

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Anthony Vella said clandestine laboratories were inherently dangerous places.

“They pose significant health and safety risks to the community and many of the chemicals involved in drug manufacture are highly volatile, explosive or carcinogenic in nature,” said Det-Insp Vella.

“Residual contamination resulting from the manufacture of these illicit substances also presents a serious risk to both human and environmental health.

“We know that the trafficking and use of drugs is an enormous driver of serious and organised crime across the state and these offences are a key focus for Victoria Police right across the organisation.

“These arrests should serve as a sobering reminder to those engaged in the manufacture of illicit substances - you will be targeted and held to account.”

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report.

Note to media:

Media are encouraged to include help seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community. The following services provide people with access to support and information.

• For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
• Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at counsellingonline.org.au.
• For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to turningpoint.org.au.

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