Deadline: The unlikely bikie boom town in country Victoria

A bikie gang that’s expanded its business interests on the banks of the Murray River is now facing a sobering Christmas as police swoop.

Andrew Rule and Mark Buttler with the latest crime buzz.

BORDER BIKIES ON BACK FOOT

It was a couple of summers ago that whispers started to emerge about the Mongol bikie gang’s interest in Cobram.

There was talk of property acquisitions and business opportunities in what seemed an unlikely boom town for an OMCG.

But as 2021 draws to a close, it looks like being a sobering Christmas for the bikies from the banks of the Murray River.

By Deadline’s maths, there have been at least 15 arrests of Mongols and associates in raids linked to the gang since last winter.

Police are raiding properties linked to the Mongols. Picture: Tony Gough

Just last Friday, three men, including a patched Mongol, were arrested in yet another police operation.

Most of those warrants were carried out as part of investigations into cocaine and ice trafficking.

Among those charged have been four members of the Eddy family.

They are headlined by 28-year-old Joshua Eddy, a businessman who runs the local Cartel vehicle-detailing business and who, police say, is the area’s sergeant-at-arms.

Joshua Eddy is facing high-level drug trafficking charges and will spend an uncool Yule on remand.

The various swoops have ensnared an interesting array of others.

The oldest arrested is a 70-year-old woman and the youngest, a male aged 18.

COURTING DISASTER

There’s a flashy pantsman who has made a big impact on Melbourne’s gangland in recent years.

His propensity for pulling the trigger is, apparently, almost matched by his eagerness to put to use another object concealed in his pants.

Extra-marital details have been revealed for one pantsman facing court.

But Deadline was recently told of an unhappy trip this fellow made to court accompanied by his wife, no doubt there to bolster his solid citizen credentials.

Bail applications often allow the introduction of some gloves-off evidence – and so it was for our man.

Police outlined what they deemed to be some relevant material about where the accused’s mistress fitted into the whole saga.

It was the first our man’s tearful spouse had heard of it and left him with plenty of mopping up to do.

There’s been a new test for Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: David Geraghty

TAKING THE P155

Victoria’s top cop Shane Patton achieved a significant first last week.

Mr Patton is believed to have become the only Chief Commissioner to be put through a random drug and alcohol examination.

A testing team unexpectedly turned up at his office and ordered the boss to pee into a little cup.

Thankfully, Mr Patton came up negative.

HE AIN’T DRIVING, HE’S MY BROTHER

There are learner drivers and there are slow learner drivers.

Last week, police busted one of the latter in Springvale and it will cost the 17-year-old’s brother dearly.

The teen clown was taking big bro’s car for a spin when he decided it’d be fun to really put the Mazda 3 to the test by doing 173km/h on Westall Rd with three passengers on board.

Unfortunately for him – but luckily for anyone else driving in the area – he was spotted by Dandenong highway patrol officers in the 80km/h zone and hit with a swag of driving offences.

A lead-footed 17-year-old is facing a big penalty after being busted at 173km/h.

But police said his biggest concern was how he would tell his older brother that the Mazda had been impounded for a month.

Deadline notes that, as difficult as that conversation would have been, it was better than a cop having to tell the family their boy had caused a quadruple fatal

GOING TO THE MATTRESSES

An update on last week’s item about the Great Wall of Mattresses in South Melbourne.

The bedding was left in the street after a stint doing hard yards at the Gotham City brothel.

Used mattresses stacked up outside Gotham City.

The enthusiasm of GC’s clientele was abundantly evident until they were finally collected last Friday morning after a week spent on a footpath around the corner in Ross St, South Melbourne.

By then, every second male in Melbourne had been named by mates on the Herald Sun’s Facebook page as being a contributor to the state of the bedding.

BAH, HUMBUG!

One violent offender could have expected minimal mercy from police after turning up at precisely the wrong time last week.

The bloke had gone missing after a high-level crime days earlier and was the subject of some heavy searching because of his background.

Unfortunately, he was located just as his thirsty pursuers were about to gather for their Christmas party, forcing a major arrest operation which put the beers back on ice.