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Thursday May 24, 2012

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Drugs and guns spark siege

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 7 February, 2012 - 8:32 AM
Suburban

LATEST: A siege in Melbourne's north-west has come to an end after police arrested two men who were barricaded in a unit for four-and-a-half hours.

The pair, both aged in their 20s, were arrested after lengthy negotiations and as police raided five properties across Melbourne in connection with a drugs investigation.

*Scroll down for photos and Neil Mitchell's crosses to Victoria Police and Police Reporter Yvette Gray*

The siege began just after 6am when police attempted to arrest two men in Cumberland Drive in Maribyrnong.

The men refused to come out, prompting police to surround the unit. They were arrested about 10.30am.

Police said this morning that the raids had netted about 15 kilograms of methamphetamines worth between $10 million and $15 million during the raids.

Police said loaded hand guns and about $60,000 in cash was found at the Maribyrnong unit.

Another two men were arrested in connection with the drugs raids at Reservoir, Brunswick, Maribyrnong, Glenferrie and St Leonards, where police said the bulk of the drugs were found.

Detective Superintendent Doug Fryer said the raids uncovered one of the most sophisticated drug labs officers had seen in a decade.

He said the discovery of the clandestine lab in St Leonards 'should put a dent in the market'.

"Our clandestine laboratory squad say this is one of the most sophisticated labs they have seen in the last decade."

He said police were forced to clear the air before entering the St Leonards site, for fear of explosion.

"The lab was that volatile that our investigators and chemists had to withdraw from the premises because it was too dangerous."

- Mex Cooper, The Age

IMAGE: Tactical officers in Maribyrnong. Photo: Wayne Taylor.

Tactical officers outside the apartment complext in Maribyrnong.

IMAGE: Special operations police in Maribyrnong.

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IMAGE: Streets cordoned off in Maribrynong (Yvette Gray).

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PLAY: Police Reporter Yvette Gray says the raid was one of many  drug busts across Melbourne today

PLAY: Detective Doug Fryer says this is one of the largest drug labs we've ever seen in Melbourne

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Blog comments Your Say

  • Can't we use the drug sniffer dogs to go door knocking in Meadow Heights and just have the big brawler van following along to lock them all up? Guarantee a van full from every street.

    Helen Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 12:27 PM

  • Also, try Ballarat! You will find lots of meth cooks there too! In the towns north of Ballarat as well there are a few fortress type houses that are extremely suspicious, these are inhabited by people with eyes popping out of their skulls (male and female!)

    ManoftheSwamp Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 11:41 AM

  • Not one raid and arrest in St. Albans?
    Plan your next operation in St. Albans law enforcement people, you will certainly have success there.

    Vera Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 8:08 AM

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