Cranbourne North man facing 150 charges for allegedly arming youth gang members

A Cranbourne North man who has allegedly been selling knives and machetes to youth gang members across Melbourne’s southeast has been hit with almost 150 charges.

A man is facing almost 150 charges for allegedly arming youth gang members with weapons across Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.

The 52-year-old Cranbourne North man had been allegedly selling knives and machetes to kids in the Greater Dandenong area before his arrest in October last year.

His lengthy rap sheet comes after raids at two shops in Narre Warren and Boronia, where police uncovered more than 400 weapons, including three imitation handguns, samurai swords, knuckle dusters and an axe.

The stockpile contained a slew of different knives, such as butterfly knives, daggers, flick knives, daggers and zombie knives – knives that are inspired by zombie films and typically used in violent assaults.

Among the haul were 11 cartons of illegal cigarettes, 2kg of loose-leaf tobacco, meth, cannabis and prescription medication.

Police also uncovered 17,525 vapes, worth almost half-a-million dollars, and laser pointers.

Imitation handguns were among more than 400 weapons seized in a big raid of businesses in Melbourne's southeast. Picture: supplied

The Cranbourne North man’s charges include nearly 100 counts of possessing prohibited weapons without approval, 27 counts of possessing prescription medicine, 10 counts of showing prohibited weapons for sale, four counts of possessing an imitation firearm and two counts of possessing tobacco.

He was summonsed to appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on July 16.

A second 34-year-old Narre Warren North man was also arrested at the time, but was released pending further inquiries.

Following the men’s arrests last year, Dandenong Youth Gang Team senior sergeant Josh Milligan said there was “no place” for adults who “take advantage” of youths by selling them weapons.

“We know the harm that illegal weapons can cause in our community, especially when they’re in the hands of young people,” he said.

Investigators carried out the raid on the suspected weapon sellers under Operation Alliance,

More than 400 weapons were seized. Picture: Police media

Victoria Police’s operation targeting the state’s most violent and serious repeat youth offenders.

Fifty-nine of Victoria’s most serious young criminals have all been arrested more than 10 times each.

Nearly 390 known youth gang members have committed about eight crimes each in the past year.

The man’s charges come after a group of teens allegedly terrorised mothers and children when they stormed a Melton shopping centre while brandishing machetes and an axe on Monday.

On Tuesday night, a pack of teens allegedly armed with knives stormed several businesses across Melbourne, stealing cigarettes and cash before leading police on a high-speed car chase.