ESSENDON, VIC. — Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad have this morning arrested a man believed to be tasking offenders with home invasions, arsons and kidnappings linked to the targeting of hospitality venues.
With assistance from Operation Eclipse detectives, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in Essendon around 8.30am.
A 20-year-old Essendon man has been taken into custody and will now be interviewed by detectives.
Police will allege the man is high-ranking within an organised criminal syndicate linked to an offshore leader.
It is believed he ‘tasked’ offenders via encrypted applications for numerous jobs, including a mistaken identity kidnapping in Malvern, an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster and an attempted arson on a Southbank licensed premises in April.
Police were called to reports of a man being kidnapped in Malvern on Tuesday, April 14. It is understood several male offenders arrived in a vehicle outside the residential address just after 9pm.
Investigators were told a male occupant came to the door before the offenders entered the house, assaulting him and forcing him into a waiting vehicle.
The man was later dropped off at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police believe the incident was targeted, but at the wrong address. Four males have been charged in relation to the incident.
Investigators will also allege that he tasked an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster on April 28. Uniform police were in the street for an unrelated matter, and the offence did not occur.
Two boys were charged after a proactive patrol of Southbank on April 27 foiled what is alleged to be an attempted arson attack on a licensed premises around 4am.
The boys were allegedly seen putting on balaclavas and latex gloves before police swooped in, arresting the pair.
A vehicle, believed to be used by the pair, was found parked nearby, containing jerry cans and a sledgehammer.
The investigation remains ongoing.
