POLICE ROCKED BY GUNS, DRUGS FIND AT STATION

The discovery of guns, drugs and knives hidden in the ceiling of St
Kilda police station has rocked the Victoria Police force.

Up to 10 guns - including a sawn-off rifle, handguns and fake firearms
- several knives, cannabis seeds, white powder believed to be heroin,
and a small amount of cash were seized during an investigation into
poor management and work practices at the St Kilda criminal
investigation unit and Embona taskforce at St Kilda police station.

Assistant Commissioner (Ethical Standards) Graeme McDonald said
yesterday two officers had been questioned so far but no charges had
been laid.

Mr McDonald said investigators from the police ethical standards
department were conducting a search of work dairies, office equipment
and records when they found a "quantity of substance", believed to be
a drug.

"Shortly thereafter, investigators observed that the roof paneling in
what is a false ceiling - a standard-type ceiling in any office
building - appeared to have been disturbed," he said.

"As a consequence, members then searched the roof cavity of that
particular area and found a number of items."

Mr McDonald said investigators had searched St Kilda after they
received an anonymous letter from a police member that supported their
concerns about the Embona taskforce and the CIU.

He said investigators had launched Operation Cad some months ago to
look into concerns about the work practices and management of a
handful of staff.

Mr McDonald denied the operation was linked to allegations made by
Peter Pilarinos, a drug trafficker convicted of bribing former drug
squad member Kevin Hicks, who is believed to have made statements on
police corruption.

Mr McDonald said police still had to interview several
officers.

"There would be no answer that I could think of that would completely
answer to my satisfaction why these items were where they were.

"St Kilda over the years has had a poor track record ... for some
reason things like this appear to pop up every now and again."