Man charged with drug trafficking following operational activity across Melbourne’s West
A West Footscray man has been charged following his alleged links to an alleged international crime group conspiring to import tonnes of illicit drugs into Australia.
The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) executed search warrants at residences in West Footscray and Flemington last week (28 May, 2026), as part of Operation Bruce Cremorne.
During these warrants, officers seized 2.15kg of heroin, 3.28kg of methamphetamine, approximately $80,000 AUD in cash and a cash counting machine.
The man, 36, was arrested at a West Footscray residence, and has been charged with:
- 2 x traffick large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 71 of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
- 2 x traffick commercial quantity of a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 71AA of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
- 1 x possessing a drug of dependence, contrary to Section 73 of the Drugs, Poison and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic.) which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment.
The man was remanded and is due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 September, 2026.
Operation Bruce Cremorne is a year-long JOCTF investigation involving the AFP, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), into a syndicate accused of seeking to import illicit drugs from a commercial vessel passing through the Bass Strait. The investigation also identified high level domestic trafficking of illicit drugs.
Nine people aged between 31 and 72 were arrested in April, 2026 as part of the ongoing operation. (AFP)
