Car loads of more than 50 armed police descended on properties in Ballarat on Thursday morning, targeting an alleged ice trafficking syndicate with links to Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Melton.
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Warrants were executed about 6am at houses in Black Hill, Cambrian Hill, Brown Hill, Ross Creek and Mount Helen, leading to the arrest of six men who were known to police.
Police seized around $35,000 in cash and methamphetamine, as well proceeds of crime, including several cars.
All six men were charged with offences before five were released on bail.
One man was remanded in custody.
Inspector Brendon McCrory, who had been working on the investigation since it started six months ago, would not say whether the suspects were producing ice along with trafficking the substance.
“It has been a long-term investigation and today was the arrest phase,” he said.
Four marked police cars remained outside a Finley Street address in Brown Hill while detectives sifted through the property about 9am.
A witness to the raid, who did not wish to be named, said he saw about 10 police officers stalk across the front lawn of the property with protection gear before they jumped fences and entered the house about 8am.
The witness said three drug squad vans were there for 10 minutes before leaving.
It’s believed nobody was home at the Finley Street address but police said the occupants were known to police.
Police said a Walker Street address in Black Hill was the main target of the raids.
The major operation comes just weeks after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said ice use was destroying lives and wrecking families.
"So many people are in the clutches of this poison," he said.