05/06/2025
Detectives from Taskforce Lunar have this afternoon charged a man as part of their investigation into alleged extortions of tobacco stores linked to a Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate.
An 18-year-old man was arrested at a Keilor East residential address early this afternoon.
He has since been charged with non-prohibited person possess Cat A firearm, possess ammunition, traffick/possess cannabis and fail to provide information for data warrant.
Police seized a sawn off bolt action rifle, approximately 3kg of cannabis, an assortment of ammunition and a 2011 Volkswagen Golf from his address.
He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 4 August.
Taskforce Lunar executed 12 search warrants across Melbourne’s northern suburbs on 17 March, charging 14 people, including an 18-year-old Essendon man who was charged with extortion.
Investigators reviewed CCTV seized from his address, locating vision where an 18-year-old Keilor East man is allegedly directed to collect extortion payments from tobacco stores in early March.
The investigation remains ongoing. For further information on this story, please click here.