Upper Yarra
Tuesday, 25 June, 2024
Nationwide search for fugitive
Casey MP calls again to restore road funding
Councillor rates and remuneration at a glance
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
PR OP ER TY
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Car show raises $20k By Callum Ludwig
Proud Rotarians handed over the $20,000 cheque.
Picture: CALLUM LUDWIG
The Rotary Club of Wandin has handed over its annual contribution to the Royal Children’s Hospital. Garnered through the fundraising efforts of their Custom Car and Bike Show series, this is the Rotarians eighth year donating to the hospital. Pat Cullen has been the Chair of the Wandin Rotary Custom Car and Bike Show Committee and said it’s fantastic to be able to make another donation. “We’re extremely proud that we can do this continually, over the eight years we will have given just short of $130,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital, plus we support the local community as well with the money,” he said. Turn to page 10 for more
Cross-border bust An arrest was made regarding the suspicious arson attack at the Seville Tobacconist on 11 February this year as part of a cross-border crackdown on the illicit tobacco trade. A 19-year old Officer man was arrested, interviewed and released pending further enquiries in regards to that incident and as one of a spate of arrests across Victoria and Western Australia. All in all, WA Police, Victoria Police, the Australian Border Force and the WA Department of Health worked together to arrest thirteen people last week as part of a cross-border investigation into an organised crime group linked to the trafficking of illicit tobacco.
In April 2024, the WA Police Force Serious and Organised Crime Division established Taskforce Cosgrove in partnership with Victoria Police and Australian Border Force to investigate the illicit tobacco network and a series of arson offences in the Perth metropolitan area, alleged to be linked to the network and crime group. Due to an escalation in serious offences, the taskforce moved to resolution phase in June 2024. As part of the joint operation, Victoria Police executed six warrants in Victoria on Monday, 17 June. Victoria Police seized 15 firearms from the
Sunbury address, along with approximately 2.4 million illicit cigarettes, a gel blaster and a stolen vehicle. The cigarettes are valued at approximately $2.4 million with a tax excise avoidance of between $2.5-3 million. A 29-year-old Sunbury man was arrested at the property and subsequently charged with being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, theft of motor vehicle, possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and Commonwealth tax offences relating to illicit cigarettes. He was remanded in custody to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on 20 September.
A further 50,000 illicit cigarettes, 30 kilograms of loose tobacco, vapes, a crossbow, ammunition, cash and drugs including cocaine, steroids and magic mushrooms were seized from other addresses. Police also arrested a 26-year-old Wollert man who is expected to be charged on summons with illicit tobacco offences and weapons offences, and a 28-year-old Collingwood man who was charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences. The latter was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 4 September 2024. More on page 6
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