Eleven Arrested in Melbourne Rail Sweep Targeting Drugs and Disorder

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An intensified three-day police crackdown on Melbourne’s eastern rail network has resulted in 11 arrests, with authorities targeting illicit drug activity and anti-social behavior. The coordinated sweep, dubbed Operation Board, covered train stations in Clayton, Glen Waverley, and Oakleigh from July 15 to 17.

Led by Victoria Police’s Transit Division and supported by Protective Services Officers (PSOs), members of the Public Order Response Team, and a passive alert detection dog from the Dog Squad, the operation aimed to reassure law-abiding commuters and deter criminal elements who have increasingly exploited public transport spaces.

Authorities engaged with over 400 individuals during the blitz. Arrests ranged from drug possession to outstanding warrants, and one case involved animal cruelty after a woman allegedly kicked a police dog. That woman, 45 and of no fixed address, is expected to be charged with both cruelty and drug possession.

Among others arrested was a 50-year-old man from Flemington, allegedly found carrying both methylamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”) and cannabis. A 16-year-old boy was caught with a knife reportedly stolen from a nearby store, and a 31-year-old man from Dandenong was apprehended on existing arrest warrants. Additionally, seven others were allegedly found with illegal drugs, identified with the help of the detection dog.

Transit East Sergeant Keith Bellinger emphasized the purpose of the operation: “This operation was about deterring the anti-social behaviour that can often come with illicit drug use. Not only are the detection dogs great at sniffing out illicit drugs on people, but they also send a clear message to dealers in the area that we are out in force.”

Bellinger reinforced the department’s ongoing commitment to restoring commuter confidence: “Everyone deserves to feel safe on our public transport network, so we will continue to run these targeted operations to stamp out anti-social behaviour.”

This kind of firm, proactive policing stands in contrast to the leniency often tolerated by higher levels of government, particularly under the current immigration-heavy leadership, where law-and-order issues have taken a backseat to political ideology. With crime spilling into everyday spaces like train stations, the growing demand for police presence speaks to a deeper erosion of public safety expectations.

Operation Board was held in Clayton on July 15, Glen Waverley on July 16, and Oakleigh on July 17. Police have indicated that similar actions will follow in other parts of the transport network.