Inside the dawn Mongols bikies raids across Melbourne
Before the sun rose in Melbourne this morning heavily-armed police were raiding 12 bikies properties across the city. Go inside the operation.
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As most of Melbourne slept this morning police arrived at the doors of 12 properties – including clubhouses of the feared Mongols bikie gang – across Melbourne.
The raids were connected to the investigation into the shooting of Croydon fruiterer Paul Virgona on EastLink in November.
This is what we know.
WHAT TIME DID THE RAIDS BEGIN?
5am, about an hour before sunrise.
WHAT POLICE WERE INVOLVED?
Officers from units including the Homicide Squad, Echo Taskforce, Crime Command, Special Operations Group, Operations Response Unit, and Eastern, Southern Metro and North West Metro Regions.
WHERE WERE THE RAIDS?
Officers raided residential and commercial buildings – as well as Mongols clubhouses – in:
* Montrose
* Kilsyth
* Lilydale
* Tecoma
* Wantirna South
* South Melbourne (commercial)
* Port Melbourne (commercial)
* Southbank
* Noble Park
* Croydon
* Ferntree Gully (clubhouse)
* Port Melbourne (clubhouse)
WHO DID THEY TARGET?
Victoria Police said they executed 12 warrants and arrested three people as part of the investigation into the shooting of Mr Virgona.
A 34-year-old Kilsyth man was arrested in Kilsyth. He was interviewed by the Homicide Squad and later charged with murder.
A 29-year-old Port Melbourne man was arrested in Port Melbourne. He was also charged with murder.
A 30-year-old Montrose man arrested in Kilsyth was interviewed by detectives from the Echo Taskforce and later charged.
WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM THE SCENES?
Victoria Police said officers seized a number of firearms and what appeared to be a quantity of drugs. Searches were continuing.