A Rebels bikie associate has been charged with using a child to traffic drugs

A Rebels bikie associate has become the first person in Australia charged with using a child to traffic drugs.

An investigation into the Rebels bikie gang has led to a man becoming the first person charged with using a child to sell drugs.

The man was one of five people arrested this week as part of a major operation by the Victoria Police Echo taskforce and Australian Federal Police investigators.

A 26-year-old man who is believed to be a Rebels associate was arrested at a home in Mernda where police say they seized $90,000 in cash, weapons and multiple mobile phones under warrant.

That man was charged with procuring a child for trafficking controlled drugs, trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and perverting the course of justice.

It is believed to be the first time the Commonwealth charge of procuring a child for trafficking controlled drugs has been laid in Australia.

Police said they would allege the man used his 14-year-old nephew as a drug courier for a crime syndicate.

A Rebels bikie associate has become the first person arrested for using a child to sell drugs.

The man will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 8.

Police said action against that man led to a wave of other warrants by members of Echo Taskforce, the illicit firearms squad, the gang crime squad, the VIPER taskforce and north west metro regional crime squad.

Those were carried out at homes in Mernda, Flemington, West Melbourne (2), Essendon, Highett, Bundoora, North Melbourne, as well as a Mernda business.

Three more men were arrested on Tuesday. They were:

An Essendon man, 47, who is believed to be a former Rebel, charged with possessing a drug of dependence.

A 28-year-old West Melbourne man who faces counts of possessing a drug of dependence, possession of explosives and possessing the proceeds of crime.

A 32-year-old West Melbourne man who was charged with cannabis cultivation.

A Highett woman, 25, who was released without charge

Police said about $20,000 in cash, drugs of dependence, prescription medication and fireworks were seized from a West Melbourne address.

They will allege an imitation handgun, about 3.5kg of what appears to be ketamine, and more than 150 bottles of prescription medication were found at the Highett address with 66 more prescription medication bottles uncovered at a Bundoora address.

It is alleged steroids were seized from an address in Essendon, and cannabis at a second West Melbourne property.

The bikie associate was arrested as part of a Victoria Police Echo taskforce and Australian Federal Police crackdown.

A 27-year-old North Melbourne man was charged with drug trafficking, drug possession and possessing the proceeds of crime after a raid in North Melbourne on Thursday (today).

Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Darlow of the state anti-gangs division said the Rebels used their wide network in criminal ventures.

“Outlaw motorcycle gangs rely on criminal activities to fund their operations and they have no regard for the damage their drug dealing activities cause to our community,” he said.

“The collaborative effort with our partners agencies at both a state and federal level ensures we are able to relentlessly disrupt these gangs to minimise the harm caused by their criminal ventures.

“Organised criminal groups such as the Rebels aren’t a state-based problem, they remain a significant issue for law enforcement right across Australia...”

AFP Acting Superintendent Glenn Tankard said organised criminals attempt every avenue to profit from illicit drugs, including exploiting children.

“Today’s charges show the depths these gangs will stoop to peddle their misery,” he said.

“Every cent that organised criminals gain from an illicit drug sale takes them one step closer to funding their next criminal venture.

“The AFP works closely with its law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt criminal groups to ensure they don’t have the means to harm more Australians.”