A Melbourne man is set to confront almost 150 charges after authorities accused him of peddling weapons to recognised youth gang members in the city’s south-east.
The 52-year-old from Cranbourne North was apprehended in October 2023 at a Narre Warren establishment, with police uncovering an arsenal of over 400 illicit weapons.
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Law enforcement confiscated an array of weaponry during raids on two stores, including imitation firearms, butterfly knives, axes, miniature samurai swords, daggers, flick knives, and knuckle dusters.
In addition to the weapons cache, authorities seized 111 cartons of illegal cigarettes, along with methylamphetamine, cannabis, and prescription medication.
More than 17,000 vapes valued at $461,000 were also confiscated.
The Cranbourne North resident now faces 97 counts of possessing prohibited weapons and numerous other weapons-related charges, along with 27 counts of possessing Schedule 4 poison related to illicit prescription drugs uncovered during the operations.
He is scheduled to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on July 16.
The arrest was part of Operation Alliance, a crackdown on youth gangs in the Dandenong area.
Victoria Police reported that the operation has resulted in the apprehension of 387 known youth gang members, a total of 1,432 arrests and 3,286 charges.
Within this cohort, a core group of 249 members was arrested more than three times each, with 59 individuals apprehended over ten times.
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