Police have arrested multiple people across Melbourne and seized guns, explosives, knives and tobacco linked to a Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate.Eight people were then charged with extortion following the early-morning raids across homes and storage facilities in north Melbourne as part of Taskforce Lunar.Police allege the charged men have been threatening tobacco store owners to cough up cash or their store would be burned down.
Police allege the charged men have been threatening tobacco store owners to cough up cash or their store would be burned down. (Victoria Police)It is alleged the charged men have been visiting tobacco stores and instructing owners to call an international WhatsApp number.Once the owner calls, a member of the syndicate will be on the other line and orders them to pay a monthly sum of money or they will burn down the store.If someone other than the owner calls the number, that store has been burnt down, police say.Detectives seized four guns, including two high-powered firearms, a handgun and a shotgun, three cars, handwritten extortion notes, knives, GPS trackers, a large quantity of cash, 10kg of loose-lead tobacco and 6000 vapes.The seized goods were found at properties across Broadmeadows, Donnybrook, Wollert, Epping, Essendon, Lalor, Taylors Hill, Airport West, Thornhill Park and Meadow Heights.
The early-morning raids resulted in eight people being charged with extortion. (Victoria Police)Storage facilities were also searched in Roxburgh Park and Coolaroo.Eight people, aged between 16 and 26, were arrested and charged with extortion and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court at a later date.One man, aged 26, is alleged to be a patched member of the Mongols bikie gang.A further two men, aged 18 and 19 were charged with extortion and will appear in court today.Another two men who were present during the raids, aged 22 and 41, were also arrested over unrelated offending."We will allege that those we've arrested today have been carrying out extortions on behalf of a serious and organised crime figure who resides offshore," said Detective Inspector Graham Banks.
Homes across north Melbourne were raided as part of Taskforce Lunar. (Victoria Police)"Victoria Police has been crystal clear that we will target all of those involved at absolutely every level of this criminality – be it a syndicate leader, a facilitator or the foot soldiers carrying out the arson attacks and extortions."There is a total lack of care and respect for life and the community, and we will relentlessly keep working our way up until we get all the way to the top of these organised crime groups."The investigation remains ongoing.Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.