A 45-year-old Victorian man has been arrested after police seized 74 boxes of Lego and chemicals capable of producing 20kg of methylamphetamine in a major drug bust.
Police from Fawkner’s Divisional Response Unit executed five simultaneous search warrants across Morwell, Essendon North, Brunswick and South Melbourne on Thursday following a four-month-long investigation.
The searches resulted in the seizure of drugs and precursor chemicals, including methylamphetamine and illegal steroids, as well as five luxury watches and a massive Lego collection – with investigators alleging the products are the proceeds of crime.
A $300 Lego Creator Police Station, a $600 Lego Creator Expert Roller Coaster, and $1300 Ultimate Collector Series Millenium Falcon were just three of the 74 Lego sets seized in the raids.
Among the chemicals Police seized was 180kg of 1,4-Butanediol – a chemical that mirrors the drug GHB when ingested – worth about $600,000; plus 34kg of Iodine and 32kg of Hypophosphorus Acid, both of which are precursors used to create methylamphetamine.
“Mixed with other ingredients, that amount of Iodine and Hypophosphorus Acid has the potential to make around 20kg of methylamphetamine or around $2 million worth,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
A handgun, ammunition, an extendable baton, and three digital devices were also seized.
The 45-year-old man arrested in Morwell has been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence, three counts of committing an indictable offence on bail, two counts of deal with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime, prohibited person possessing a firearm, two counts of possessing a prescribed precursor chemical and trafficking methylamphetamine.
He was remanded overnight and is set to appear before the Latrobe Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Fawkner Divisional Response Unit Detective Acting Sergeant Brad Hobbs said 1,4-Butanediol, which is often imported as an industrial product, was often sold by offenders “at enormous profit but also with enormous community harm.”
“Overwhelmingly what users believe is GHB is actually 1,4-Butanediol. The drug can be unpredictable and the difference between survival and a fatal overdose can be very small,” Sergeant Brad Hobbs said.
“There is absolutely no safe amount to ingest. That’s why we’re committed to removing it from unintended hands.”
(SKY NEWS)
