Police have arrested two men after finding a firearm and a block of methylamphetamine worth more than $220,000 in the backyard of a home in Malvern East.

Investigators from the Prahran Divisional Response Unit – with assistance from the Australian Federal Police Drone Unit and specialist forensic search team – executed two simultaneous search warrants at neighbouring homes on Hughes St. from approximately 9am on July 18.

According to police, one of the men ran from one house and jumped over the fence to the other property, where officers were searching another home.

He was found to be carrying nearly $25,000.

Police then dug up a garden bed on the property and reportedly found a firearm, drugs, steroids and ammunition, all wrapped in plastic.

Chief Constable Tristan Aboltins was pleased with the discovery of the buried objects and praised the work of police in finding them.

“It sometimes happens that people bury things to hide crimes. We have worked hard behind the scenes to find these things.

“A discovery like this shows that we are well equipped to find hard-to-find objects that people don’t want us to find.

“It’s a great achievement that we’ve gotten that stuff off the streets and out of the wrong hands, and it’s keeping our community safer,” he said.

During a search of the second home, police seized more steroid vials and a negotiable amount of cocaine, estimated to have a street value of over $15,000.

Police also seized a quantity of cannabis, prescription drugs, mobile phones and electronic devices.

Two men, aged 25 and 32, both from Malvern East, were arrested at the scene.

Constable Aboltins added that police are determined to stop drug trafficking in Victoria.

“My message to anyone who thinks they can get away with dealing drugs is that we are relentless in our fight; we have the resources and we have the time, and we will find you eventually,” he said.

The 25-year-old man was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an unregistered firearm and possession of proceeds of crime.

He was remanded to appear in Melbourne District Court on October 10, 2024.

The 32-year-old man was charged with possession of steroids and cannabis.

He was released on bail and was due to appear in Melbourne District Court on October 4, 2024.