Alleged criminal quintet front Shepparton Magistrates’ Court

A motley crew allegedly involved in a criminal enterprise aimed at cultivating and distributing marijuana also allegedly swindled two boats, a bobcat and a truck.

Five people have been arrested and an alleged $1.8m worth of stolen goods and drugs recovered as the result of a Victoria Police investigation into the alleged theft of two boats from Williamstown.

A gang of five are alleged to be part of a joint criminal enterprise to cultivate and distribute cannabis after $1.8m worth of stolen goods and drugs was found in country Victoria

Kane Owen Baker, Anthony D’Aloia Snr, Anthony D’Aloia Jnr, Annabel Ractliff and Hayden Duff all fronted Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday with all five intending to plead not guilty.

Magistrate Anne Goldsbrough said “The evidence in the hand up brief is substantial”.

The Victorian Marine Investigation Unit said the investigation started after two fishing boats, valued at more than $100,000 each, were reported stolen from addresses in Melbourne in two separate incidents on February 22 and March 14.

Kane Owen Baker, is pleading not guilty to all charges.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Heathcote on April 7 where they allegedly found two boats and trailers, with a total value of more than $240,000.

A further search warrant was executed at a property on Bayles Rd in Murchison on April 26 where police allegedly found $1.8m haul of stolen property as well as 115kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of $1.5m

Two firearms, a stolen truck, bobcat, two motorcycles and an industrial generator were also seized.

Detectives subsequently executed a search warrant in the Melbourne suburb of South Kingsville on May 2.

They found vessel registration stickers, drugs, a samurai sword and allegedly stolen computers and phones.

Hayden Duff is allegedly part of a wider criminal network, supposedly uncovered when two fishing boats were stolen from Williamstown earlier this year.

“What started out as one stolen boat led to police dismantling what we will allege was an organised crime network,” Inspector Greg Barras said back in April.

All five co-accused are on bail and that was extended by Ms Goldsbrough.

The co-accused are all being represented by their own individual barristers, with the exception of Mr D’Aloia Jnr and Snr who are both being represented by Mr Christopher Terry.

They will face the County Court on January 31, 2024.