Mortar shell among weapons found in massive armed robbery investigation

A mortar shell buried in a local park was among the weapons found in a massive armed robbery investigation in Melbourne’s southeast.

Police have found a military mortar shell buried in a Mount Waverley park as part of a major armed robbery investigation.

Ten people have been charged and 22 guns were seized as part of an armed crime squad inquiry into a November hold up at a licensed venue in Mulgrave.

Seven people were arrested overnight as police carried out warrants on himes at Clayton South, Roxburgh Park, Greenvale, Keysborough, Moorabbin and Rowville, as well as a storage facility in Mordialloc.

“Police also attended parkland in Mount Waverley after it was identified a military mortar shell had been buried there,” a Victoria Police statement said.

Those arrested in the overnight raids were:

A 29-year-old Clayton South man who faces 40 firearms and drugs counts.

A 30-year-old Clayton South man, charged with 25 firearms offences.

A Keysborough man, 29, who was charged with 30 firearms, drugs and handling stolen goods offences.

A 31-year-old man from Rowville who faces 11 firearms, drugs and weapons offences,

A Greenvale man, aged 30, who is charged with 11 firearms and drug offences.

A 28-year-old Moorabbin woman who faces counts of possessing methylamphetamine and possessing fireworks.

Police arrest a 29-year-old Clayton man.

A 30-year-old Greenvale man was arrested by police.

A 30-year-old Rowville man who received a cannabis caution.

Members of the special operations group, the illicit firearms squad, the VIPER taskforce, the major drug squad, Eastern region crime squad, north west metro regional crime squad, Cardinia CIU and the Dog Squad were involved in the sprawling cross-city operation.

Raids were carried out in November at Oakleigh South, Clayton South and Highett as part of the same investigation.

A 28-year-old Oakleigh South man was later charged with possessing methylamphetamine, two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, possessing an unregistered general category handgun, possessing ammunition and committing an indictable offence on bail.

A 31-year-old Oakleigh South woman is expected to be charged for drug possession and a 29-year-old Oakleigh South man was charged with being prohibited person in possession a firearm, possessing an unregistered general category handgun, two counts of handling stolen goods, possessing ammunition, possession of methylamphetamine, possess prohibited weapon and cultivate cannabis.

Another warrant was carried out at a Beaumaris address on January 8.

A 27-year-old Beaumaris man was arrested released pending further enquiries.

Police say that in the course of investigation they seized 22 guns, five imitation firearms, gun parts, ammunition, an electronic jammer and explosives.

Drugs including liquid GHB, LSD, methylamphetamine, cannabis, and prescription drugs have been confiscated, along with pepper spray, knuckle dusters, 3D printed firearm parts and stolen goods including registration plates.

The armed robbery which started the inquiry was carried out on a licensed premises on Dandenong Rd in the early hours of November 3.

They will alleged two men brandishing handguns walked in and demanded cash.

Two staff members and some patrons who were inside the venue at the time were not hurt.

Cash was stolen before fleeing in a waiting vehicle.

Detective Insp. Mark Hatt of the armed crime squad warned police would find those involved in the making trafficking and use of guns.

“The arrests and seizures made over the course of this investigation are significant and a clear demonstration that our focus includes the affiliates and networks of those involved in this type of offending,” Insp. Hatt said.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent the access and use of illicit firearms, particularly by groups and criminals involved in serious and organised crime”