Police have seized 40 kilograms of cocaine after making more arrests linked to an illegal drug syndicate operating out of Melbourne’s north and west.
Victoria Police said a vehicle was intercepted on the Hume Highway at Kalkallo, in Melbourne’s north, on Tuesday morning as it was being driven back from the New South Wales border.
Police found the cocaine, with an estimated street value of $14 million, inside the vehicle.
Aaron Smith, 19, from Noble Park and 20-year-old Jonathan Ben from Hampton Park were both charged with trafficking and possessing a large commercial quantity of cocaine.
Police have alleged they were involved in transporting illegal drugs as part of a wider drug syndicate operating in Victoria.
Police seized 40 kilograms of cocaine, worth an estimated $14 million. (Supplied: Victoria Police)
Detective Inspector Jamie Walker from the Major Drug Squad said the seizure would be a major blow to the syndicate.
“Through large-scale drug seizures — like the one highlighted this week — we prevent the profits from these drugs from being invested back into the criminal activities of those involved,” he said.
“There is no doubt that this syndicate will take a massive monetary hit as a result of this outcome, which is crucial for us as we work to target these syndicates in any and every way possible.”
Mr Ben was granted bail after his family put up a surety of $15,000. He will return to court in November.
The court heard it was Mr Smith’s first time in custody and no application for bail was made.
He will return to court in December.