Police seize $100k worth of Pokemon, One Piece card collections allegedly linked to major drug trafficking operation

A haul of Pokemon and One Piece trading cards worth an estimated $100,000 has been seized from a Melbourne home as part of a major drug trafficking investigation. The probe also allegedly uncovered $2.5 million worth of methylamphetamine hidden in a car on the Hume Highway. Major Drug Squad detectives charged a 26-year-old man after intercepting a vehicle in Kalkallo about 1.20pm on Tuesday. Police allege the driver was transporting approximately 43kg of methylamphetamine between NSW and Victoria when officers stopped the car. A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered the drugs, with an estimated street value of $2.5 million. Executing a search warrant at the man’s St Albans home, police allegedly seized about $50,000 in cash, multiple mobile phones along with the collection of trading cards from the popular franchises Pokemon and One Piece. The cards can fetch tens of thousands of dollars depending on rarity and condition, with some limited-edition cards highly sought after by collectors. Detective Inspector Jamie Walker said illicit drugs “destroy lives and communities”. “Drugs contribute to addiction, overdoses and even death and often bring weapons, organised crime networks and violence into neighbourhoods,” Inspector Walker said. “By intercepting significant drug trafficking operations like this, we prevent the profits from these drugs from being invested back into the criminal activities of those involved. “We have zero tolerance for drugs, and we will hold people who commit these offences to account.” The 26-year-old has been charged with trafficking and possessing a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, trafficking and possessing a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, trafficking and possessing methylamphetamine, and four counts of possessing suspected proceeds of crime. He was remanded in custody and appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.