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Two Victorian women, with alleged connections to Albanian organised crime, have been charged for their alleged involvement in a cannabis trafficking plot and are expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today (5 February, 2025).
The Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF) initially charged a Hillside man in September 2024, for his alleged involvement in the same plot to traffic $1.2 million worth of cannabis between Victoria and New South Wales and for allegedly dealing with suspected illicit cash.
The women have been charged as a result of ongoing investigations under Operation Kraken-Dathomir, which stemmed from intelligence from the AFP’s disruption of the Ghost encrypted communications platform.
The Victorian man, 38, was identified during AFP-led Operation Kraken as an alleged reseller of Ghost devices which were allegedly being used to coordinate secret communications between criminals, including members of an Albanian organised criminal syndicate.
As a result of this intelligence, the VIC JOCTF, comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ABF, allegedly linked the man to $395,000 in suspected illicit cash, a Porche Cayenne, 28kg of cannabis, a grow house containing 25kg of mature cannabis plants, a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition and other prohibited weapons.
The cash and drugs were found by police in vehicles during separate searches in 2024.
The JOCTF has now charged the man’s partner, a Hillside woman, 35, for her alleged involvement in the cannabis trafficking operation and various drugs and firearm offences.
She was charged on 30 January, 2025, and is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today (5 February, 2025) on 17 offences:
Five counts of trafficking a marketable quantity of a controlled plant, namely cannabis, contrary to section 304.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years’ imprisonment;
Four counts of possessing proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is two years imprisonment;
One count of trafficking alprazolam, contrary to section 71AC of the Drugs, Poisons, Controlled Substances Act 1981(Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment;
One count of cultivating a controlled plant, namely cannabis, contrary to section 303.6 of the Criminal Code Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment;
One count of theft, contrary to section 74 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years’ imprisonment;
One count of handling stolen goods, contrary to section 88(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment;
One count of possessing an unregistered general category handgun, contrary to section 7B(1)of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years’ imprisonment;
One count of possessing cocaine, contrary to section 73 of the Drugs, Poisons, Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years’ imprisonment;
One count of possessing prohibited weapons, contrary to section 5AA of the Control of Weapons Act 1990 (Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is two years’ imprisonment; and
One count of possessing cartridge ammunition, contrary to section 124(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic). The maximum penalty for this offence is a $6400 fine (40 penalty units).
A second woman, 31, from Pascoe Vale, who is also allegedly linked to the trafficking plot, was also charged on 30 January, 2025. She will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today (5 February, 2025) charged with:
Two counts of trafficking a marketable quantity of a controlled plant, namely cannabis, contrary to section 304.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years’ imprisonment; and
Two counts of possessing proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is three years’ imprisonment.
The JOCTF has also charged the Hillside man, 38, with seven additional offences, including possessing an unregistered firearm, possessing prohibited weapons and various drug offences. He will next face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 February, 2025.
AFP Detective Inspector Chris Salmon said Operation Kraken once again showcased the skill, dedication and capability of the AFP.
“The resolution of Operation Kraken in September 2024 was the culmination of the AFP’s largest criminal investigation in 2024, but the work of investigators is continuing in 2025 to piece together the full scale of criminality that allegedly took place over the Ghost app,” Det Insp Salmon said.
“The AFP will never give up in the fight against organised crime. We do this to keep Australians safe – that is our number one job.”
Victoria Police Detective Acting Inspector Damien O’Mahoney said Operation Kraken was another example of how law enforcement partners had worked together to keep dangerous drugs off Australian streets.
“Victoria Police recognises the serious harm that illicit drugs and the associated criminal activity has on our community. We will relentlessly target anyone involved in the illicit drug trade, and this includes the confiscation of their criminal assets,” Det a/Insp O’Mahoney said.
“Alongside our partner agencies, we are completely committed to reducing this threat to community safety and making Victoria as hostile an environment as possible for anyone seeking to profit from the misery that illicit drugs cause.”
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