MELBOURNE: Extradited from Tasmania
Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have today charged a fourth man as part of an investigation into blackmail.
With assistance from Tasmania Police investigators and specialist resources, a 42-year-old Maribyrnong man was taken into custody in New Norfolk around 11am on Tuesday (Mar. 17).
Detectives from Taskforce Hawk then flew to Tasmania to apply for the man’s extradition. He has since been charged with blackmail.
The man, believed to be a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court later today after his extradition.
A 36-year-old Lalor man was charged on March 4 with blackmail, eight counts of possess anabolic steroids and unauthor-ised person possess Schedule 4 poison.
A notice of suspension and proposal to cancel the man’s firearms licence was also served under the Firearms Act.
Four registered firearms, steroids, peptides and electronic devices were seized from his address.
The charges relate to allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn on January 19, when a demand was made for the victim to pay $663,000.
Investigators will allege the man facilitated the blackmail by engaging an OMCG member to carry it out.
A 32-year-old Eltham man was charged on February 12 with blackmail and fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).
He was further on February 26 charged with two counts of contravene conduct condition of bail.
He will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 18.
A 32-year-old Watsonia man was charged on February 12 with fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).
He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on April 2.
Taskforce Hawk was established to cifically target the infiltration of serious and organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) into major Victorian Government infrastructure projects and the construction industry.
Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing and investigating new intelligence and evidence relating to allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.
It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Police are also instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities.
Detective Acting Inspector Randeep Atwal, Taskforce Hawk, said: “Taskforce Hawk will investigate any and all criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry – be that extortions, arsons, serious violent offending, blackmail or threatening and harassing communications.
“We will not tolerate behaviour that aims to intimidate and harass people who simply want to be able to go to work and perform their job to the best of their ability.
“Irrespective of where you are in the country, we will continue to work with our partner agencies to ensure that those who think they are above the law are held to account for their criminal behaviour.
“We would encourage anyone that has any information on concerning behaviours witnessed in any construction industry work speplace to come forward and speak to police. As always, it can be done anonymously and reports will be treated with the strictest of confidence,” Det. A/Insp. Atwal said.