ELTHAM, VIC. — Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have this afternoon charged two men as part of an investigation into blackmail.
A 32-year-old Eltham man was charged with blackmail and failing to comply with a direction to assist after failing to provide a device pin code.
The man appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
A 32-year-old Watsonia man was charged with failing to comply with a direction to assist after also failing to provide a device pin code.
He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on April 2.
A 55-year-old Mernda man was released.
The charges relate to allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn on January 19, 2026, when a demand was allegedly made for the victim to pay $663,000.
Operation Hawk was established in July 2024 to specifically target criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry and transitioned to Taskforce Hawk in June 2025.
This was in response to several fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour.
Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing new intelligence and evidence related to allegations of criminal behaviour in the construction industry.
It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Police are also instigating approaches with relevant industry stakeholders to gather intelligence, as well as working closely with a range of law enforcement partners, regulators and government authorities.
The investigation remains ongoing.
