By Alesha Capone
FOOTSCRAY police discovered drugs with an estimated street value of approximately $44 million after searching a vehicle parked in Maribyrnong last week.
Two people present were arrested and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin and amphetamines.
They were also charged with one count each of dealing with properties suspected to be the proceeds of crime, after $160,550 cash was found in the car.
Last Wednesday night, an out-of-sessions hearing at Footscray Police Station heard Thi Tran, 43, from Maribyrnong and Manh Dao, 34, from Southbank were arrested after police discovered two suitcases – containing the $44 million worth of drugs – in a black BMW.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Flynn, from the Drug Taskforce, said the vehicle was parked in Cumberland Drive last Tuesday at 4.19am.
After searching the BMW, police found the suitcases which allegedly contained 19kg of heroin and six kilos of amphetamines, believed to be ice.
Mr Dao and Ms Tran, who is unemployed and receiving Centrelink benefits, were remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.
A 24-year-old Southbank woman at the scene was also arrested but later released.
“This is a very significant seizure of illicit drugs,” Det Sen Sgt Flynn said.
“In my 23 years, 13 of which have been in major drug investigations, it’s one of the largest I have seen.”
Mr Dao and Ms Tran denied any knowledge of what the suitcases contained.
Det Sen Sgt Flynn said the drugs were seized as part of an ongoing Drug Taskforce and Australian Crime Commission (ACC) investigation named Operation Lithium, which was responsible for seizing approximately $60 million worth of drugs within the past 24 hours.
As part of Operation Lithium, officers from the ACC, Drug Taskforce, Footscray and Altona North Police Stations, the Maribyrnong CIU and the Dog Squad raided properties in St Albans, Maribyrnong, Footscray, Southbank and Docklands last week.
