By Laura Michell
Two Caroline Springs residents are among five people arrested as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking syndicate linked to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.
Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force executed search warrants at properties in Caroline Springs, Aberfeldie, Greenvale, Hillside and Kew on September 12.
A 21-year-old Greenvale man, 20-year-old Aberfeldie man and a 30-year-old Kew man were arrested.
A 27-year-old Caroline Springs man, who is alleged to be an office bearer of the Comancheros, and a 25-year-old Caroline Springs woman were arrested on September 11.
A number of items including cash, drugs and stolen vehicles were seized during the raids.
Police said the arrests are part of a 10-month investigation into the importation of border controlled substances and large commercial level trafficking within Victoria.
Police believe the syndicate is also linked to two non-fatal shootings and a vehicle arson in Reservoir in early June.
A Broadmeadows man, 21, was arrested on September 4 in relation to the vehicle arson.
Police said a firearm was uncovered during the arrest and is being forensically tested.
The man has been charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possessing a drug of dependence.
Detectives have arrested five people as part of an ongoing joint agency investigation into a drug trafficking syndicate linked to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.
?@crimestoppervic on 1800 333 000
?t.co/WbKvkLsvbQ pic.twitter.com/rZIhVcJpS3— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) September 12, 2019
Echo Taskforce Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Lloyd said the arrests showed police were actively working to disrupt criminal activities.
“The links to the shootings and arson also highlight how often we see drugs and firearms intrinsically linked within these organised crime groups,” he said.
“Ultimately, this is a syndicate who have caused immense harm within Victoria.”
Police and Australian Border Force have previously made a number of seizures as part of the investigation, including 1.975 tonnes of 1,4 Butanediol; 100 kilograms of P2P, a pre-cursor chemical used in the manufacture of methyl-amphetamine and amphetamine; and more than 100kg of ketamine and analogue narcotics, which mirror the effects of amphetamine-based substances.
