This week on BUSTED we talk about the surge in crime in Victoria, what’s driving this and discuss why Victoria seems to be the nation’s crime ‘hot spot’.

The latest Victorian crime stats revealed that Victoria recorded its largest yearly spike in crime rates. This is despite a curfew being in place for public health reasons prohibiting people from leaving their homes between 8pm – 5am.

The unenviable statistics show that criminal incidents have increased by 5.6 percent from over 21,000 to over 400,000 incidents – the highest since records commenced. The significant increase in crime was off the back of spikes in drug possession offences and car thefts, suggesting that more needs to be done to curb crime in Victoria.

Victoria’s Deputy Police Commissioner even expressed his dismay at this significant increase, especially considering much of metropolitan Melbourne had been in a forced lockdown for most of the year. What this shows is that even when you might think crime rates should be falling, criminals have continued to steal from innocent people, sell illegal material and participate in illegal activities through COVID-19 lockdowns.

Of significant concern is the increase in gang related activity – with new Operation Alliance launched aimed at preventing, disrupting and dismantling gangs.

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This week on BUSTED we talk about a couple of crooks from Adelaide who crashed a stolen vehicle into residential premises in Adelaide’s southern suburbs.

The first incident happened in the earlier hours of the morning and the man and woman were captured on foot by police dog ‘Stoic’ after fleeing the scene. The case was taken to court and the man was charged with the illegal use of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified. His partner in crime was charged with the illegal use of a motor vehicle.

In a separate incident, another Adelaide man was spotted driving erratically and police were required to use road spikes to slow the vehicle and officer, with the support of police dog ‘Ben’ arrested the man. He was charged with a string of offences including driving while disqualified, driving to escape police, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, and driving under the influence.

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This week on Busted we discuss a drug cook behind one of the biggest MDMA labs in New South Wales history. This Drug cook arrested AGAIN

The man had been on bail for three months before he was arrested for more drug offences and links to drug manufacturing including a large drug lab and 4.5 kilograms of MDMA in Sydney’s southwest.

NSW Drug and Firearm Squad officers uncovered the drug cooking operation inside a factory at Moorebank after arresting the man during a vehicle stop on Wednesday morning. More than 200 items, including chemical precursors, glassware and solvents were seized.

Earlier this year the man pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, including drug manufacture and precursor possession, and is due to face the NSW Supreme Court for sentencing in November.

But with this subsequent arrest, he has been denied bail.

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In this episode of BUSTED we look at a big operation even the US Department of Homeland Security got involved with.

During the raid, police were even forced to establish a 50-metre exclusion zone. NSW Police, Border Force and US Homeland Security raided a house in Bathurst in regional New South Wales in a global operation looking into the alleged importation of illegal gun parts.

Australia, proudly, has very few guns but a 36-year-old man from South Bathurst was trying to change that by importing illegal parts for firearms. The weapons parts – barrels, trigger mechanisms and the like – were smuggled into the country by mail through air cargo and the international mail stream.

Thankfully police got to him but he’d managed to import the parts needed to actually construct a weapon. Beyond that, the bloke was also importing drug manufacturing equipment. In fact, it was his role in this drug operation which led police to establish the 50m exclusion zone when they found a “suspicious substance” which was found to be a “drug-related chemical”.

With the ability to import parts required to assemble a gun and things linked to drug supply, it will be interesting to see if there are any links to other organised crime groups.

Check out the latest BUSTED episode to hear more about this man’s very bad day and to see what BUSTED rating this one was given.

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Here, Rohan and Heath unpack the Whopping police raids in Shepparton.

A raid on a tobacco growing operation, which would have been worth about $20 million if the organised crime syndicate behind the operation had not been caught. Eight warrants were executed at a bunch of residential and rural addresses in Shepparton and Mooroopna by local police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police saw three men arrested, who we now expect will be charged.

The scale of this operation was deeply concerning and if this illegal tobacco had been sold, it clearly would have undercut legitimate businesses and retailers. When you throw in the fact that police also found cash and stolen number plates at the site and the guys responsible were hit with a string of other offences, including firearms and Commonwealth offences, it’s pretty clear that this wasn’t just a backyard operation between a few mates. This was clearly a sophisticated and organised criminal organisation which would’ve seen taxpayers and legitimate businesses alike ripped off.

Shepparton has been an illegal tobacco hotspot for some time, and this is just the latest in illegal tobacco raids. Just in September, police have raided 30,000 packs of illegal cigarettes worth more than $600,000. Check out the latest episode of BUSTED to find out more and see what rating this raid was given.

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A Hong Kong-based international crime syndicate has been brought down by the Federal Police in Beverly Hills in South Sydney.

This crime ring was using a really sophisticated method to smuggle methamphetamines into Australia, highlighting how tough it is for law enforcement to detect these kinds of operations.

Be sure to watch the latest episode of BUSTED to see how they were concealing their drugs and how this crime sydnicate's Australian operation came crashing down.

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People just aren’t using cash anymore, thanks to COVID and tap and pay, so shops just don’t have much on their premises anymore.

Criminals have turned to targeting another product instead. Recently a shop on the Gold Coast was the victim of an armed robbery in broad daylight with a replica gun.

Check out the latest BUSTED video so see what has become criminals’ target of choice.

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Four youths in Brisbane, already known to Queensland Police, were arrested for hijacking cars from vulnerable young women all over the city.

Check out the latest episode of BUSTED to hear more about what these none too bright kids got up to and what BUSTED rating they got.

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You’ve heard “slap on the wrist” but have you ever heard “slapped with a wet tram ticket” when someone gets off lightly?

In this episode of BUSTED we look at a man who was caught selling a smorgasbord of illegal party drugs out of his parents’ home.

Watch the latest episode to see what his punishment was to earn that description!

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