Police have arrested four men as part of an investigation into a series of kidnappings, non-fatal shootings, serious assaults and extortions in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs.
On Saturday 7 August police took action to locate a 30-year-old Cranbourne East man and a 27-year-old Cranbourne man who were allegedly being held and assaulted.
The Cranbourne East man was being held at a property in Cranbourne, while the Cranbourne man was subsequently taken to a property in Dingley Village.
Police attended the Cranbourne property and shortly after 12.45am on Sunday 8 August arrested a 39-year-old Cranbourne man with the assistance of the Special Operations Group.
A search of the property uncovered a number of firearm accessories.
Just before 1am, a 26-year-old Dingley Village man was arrested at his Dingley Village property also by the Special Operations Group, along with a 26-year-old Balaclava man.
The Cranbourne man had been seriously injured and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad and Casey Crime Investigation Unit yesterday executed a warrant at a factory in Oakleigh as part of this investigation.
They located a loaded handgun, sawn-off shotgun, and a range of drugs.
Then on Monday 9 August, Armed Crime Squad detectives executed a warrant at a Taylors Lakes address and this property will now be forensically examined.
A 38-year-old Taylors Lakes man was arrested in Sydenham and will now be interviewed by police.
Also on Monday 9 August, detectives from Casey Crime Investigation Unit arrested a 34-year-old Clyde North man who will also now be interviewed.
The three men arrested on Sunday morning have all been charged with intentionally cause serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury and false imprisonment.
All faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier on Monday and have been remanded in custody to appear again on 1 November.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
