More than 500 police raided a series of homes in Melbourne’s north-western suburbs Tuesday morning and arrested 27 people.
Raids began at 4.30am, with 44 warrants issued in Altona North, Williamstown, Truganina, Sunshine, Somerton, Campbellfield, Broadmeadows and Strathmore.
Warrants were also executed at Sunshine North, Hillside, Keilor Downs, Albion, Sunshine West and Cairnlea.
Police also raided an illegal tobacco and marijuana plantation at Moorabool, near Geelong, with 35,000 plants on three plots.
Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana told 3AW that “significant charges” were expected to be laid for commercial drug trafficking, particularly of methamphetamine.
“They were a Middle Eastern crime syndicate, some of the families are well known, from a particular family,” Mr Fontana said.
“These people have been involved for a number of years in very serious criminal activity. We will be charging a few today with commercial drug trafficking particularly of methamphetamine.”
He said six of the raids were high-risk and special operations group officers were used. He said no police or members of the public were injured in the raids.
Santiago Taskforce was set up by Victoria Police in October 2008 to address serious and organised crime, including shooting incidents involving a number of families and their associates.
A police statement said the taskforce’s role was to combat crimes involving the use of firearms, kidnapping, other forms of extreme violence, drug trafficking, and organised car theft.
Customs, border protection and tax officials have been called to the Moorabool farm.
Mr Fontana said aerial images showed there were three plots covered in mesh to hide the crop.
He said police had also seized three cars considered “assets” in the raids.
