Police have arrested eight men and seized firearms this week following an investigation into an organised crime syndicate with international links operating in Victoria.
Two 28-year-olds and one 27-year-old from Lalor, as well as one 42-year-old from Airport West were arrested on Wednesday 21 January, along with two others from interstate.
The arrests were made after police executed a search warrant across three residential properties in Lalor and Airport West as well as two factories in Epping.
Police seized items including three firearms, cocaine, ammunition, cash, vehicles, a detonator cord and almost 50 electronic items that will be forensically analysed.
Gang crime squad Detective Inspector Graham Banks said the items show the group is engaged in significant, violent criminality.
“It highlights the threat they pose to innocent members of the public,” Detective Inspector Banks said.
The Airport West man has been released pending further enquiries, the other five men are being interviewed about a range of drug and firearms offences.
A day earlier, on 20 January , two other men from Sydney, aged 22 and 21 were charged with an array of offences following a car chase.
The offences include vehicle theft, unregistered weapon and ammunition possession and four further driving offences.
Police conducted a search of an alleged stolen car, uncovering a handgun, ammunition, small explosive devices and a conducted energy device.
“[The seized items] could have been used to wreak immense harm… and almost certainly would have resulted in the loss of life,” Detective Inspector Banks said.
The men faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and were remanded in custody pending a new bail application date.
The car chase began shortly after 2.40am on Tuesday, starting in Airport West and ending when the alleged offender dumped the white Kia with cloned number plates on Gaffney Street in Pascoe Vale.
The offenders ran into the nearby Raeburn Reserve before police searched the alleged stolen car and surrounds.
Another firearm was taken to Fawkner Police Station on Tuesday morning by a woman walking her dog in Raeburn Reserve at 7.25am.
The investigation which started in December 2025 remains ongoing.
Anyone with information on these incidents is urged to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
