Three gang-linked men arrested in raids part of drug trafficking investigation

Three men linked to a powerful Middle Eastern organised crime gang have been arrested in a major drug trafficking investigation.

Police have made a sweep of raids across Melbourne as part of a major drug investigation that has entangled accused crime boss Mohammed Oueida.

Detectives carried out 20 warrants on Tuesday in connection with a Joint ­Organised Crime Taskforce inquiry into Middle Eastern organised crime, which police ­allege in January led to the state’s biggest heroin seizure.

Eight dawn raids were carried out at Campbellfield, two at ­Campbellfield, two at Coolaroo, two at Reservoir and ­others at Greenvale, Wollert, Craigieburn, Broadmeadows, Pascoe Vale South, Melbourne, Tullamarine and Fawkner.

Police arrested a 33-year-old Fawkner man, a 41-year-old Campbellfield man and a woman, 39, from Greenvale.

A gun, cash, diamonds, computer equipment, MDMA, cannabis and tobacco have ­allegedly been seized.

Warrants executed across Melbourne as part of joint drug investigation. Supplied/AFP

The operation was part of an 18-month investigation by the JOCTF into illicit drug and tobacco trafficking linked to an alleged Middle Eastern organised crime syndicate. In ­January, the same operation allegedly seized 300kg of heroin from an air cargo consignment, with a street value of about $60m, which police said was the state’s biggest heroin seizure.

It was detected by Australian Border Force officers when it arrived in Melbourne from Malaysia on January 8.

Warrants were later carried out, including at a business in Campbellfield.

The JOCTF is made up of members from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Department of Home Affairs.

In January this year, police seized 300kg heroin with a street value of approximately $60M. Supplied/AFP

The Melbourne drug operation is linked to a massive sting by police in Western Australia in April. Among those arrested was Ouieda, apprehended in Coolbellup, south of Perth.

Ouieda is a notable figure in Melbourne who once had a sprawling property in Greenvale and in 2017 survived being shot after leaving a Coburg mosque.

Investigators suspect Ouieda of being the “principal person’’ who co-ordinated the alleged smuggling of 33kg of methamphetamine and 50,000 pills into Western Australia in a rented Winnebago.

The loot was largest ever heroin seizure. Supplied/AFP

Police intercepted two Victorians who were driving the motorhome, allegedly finding the drug stash hidden under a bed. The illicit cargo was allegedly driven into Western Australia by the pair, who crossed the border on April 15.

A man, 35, and a woman, 42, were arrested and charged with possession of a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine after they were stopped by police in the wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin. Ouieda was allegedly in convoy with the couple in the motorhome.

Victoria Police Commander Mick Frewen said joint investigations could combat organised crime groups with “immense reach”, both domestically and internationally.

“They are essentially trafficking immense harm into Victoria and profiting off our community’s misery, and they have absolutely no qualms doing this,” he said.