Accused gun dealers Luke Camillo and Luke Gallo to stand trial
A duo suspected of being gunrunners in Melbourne’s southeast will stand trial in the County Court after a lengthy investigation by undercover police.
South East
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A duo accused of being part of a suspected firearms crew will stand trial in the County Court following a covert operation by undercover police.
Luke Gallo and Luke Camillo fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for a committal hearing where they pleaded not guilty to a raft of firearms charges.
The pair were charged earlier this year after a lengthy undercover investigation by Victoria Police’s armed crime squad.
Mr Camillo, who has been charged with possessing unregistered firearms and a handgun, was allegedly nabbed moving a handgun during an illegal “transaction” at Mordialloc on December 4, 2023.
Police also alleged Mr Camillo, of Keysborough, possessed multiple firearms without serial numbers and various suspected stolen firearms.
It’s alleged Mr Camillo, who appeared via video link from Marngoneet Prison on remand, also possessed multiple unregistered guns and illegally moved a longarm at Clayton South on January 4.
Mr Gallo, of Clayton South, was also allegedly caught possessing unregistered guns at Mordialloc on December 4.
Mr Gallo, who was charged with multiple firearm offences, was also allegedly nabbed with cocaine and cash at Clayton South on January 18.
The court heard two undercover operatives were placed into the alleged gun running crew to gain evidence.
There was a discussion about the availability of firearms, the undercover witness told the court, where one of the officers asked “are they sawn down or are they still long”.
The court heard that the undercover operatives gave Mr Gallo a lift home, while they also investigated him regarding an armed robbery at a Mulgrave “pokie joint” to which he allegedly denied any involvement.
Questions were raised in court whether the undercover operatives had “incited” Mr Gallo, to which the witness said “(incitement) is encouraging someone to commit an offence … This is not incitement, this is purely engaging with the target”.
The prosecution will have to pay costs of $4600 to the defence after what was meant to be a two-day committal hearing went into a third day due to the “difficulty” of the undercover witness.
The two co-accused were committed to stand trial at the County Court by Magistrate Brett Sonnet and will face a directions hearing on February 4.
The trial is estimated to take two weeks.
