MILL PARK, VIC. — Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have today charged a sixth man as part of an investigation into blackmail.
The 32-year-old Mill Park man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was arrested this morning and interviewed by police.
He has subsequently been charged with blackmail and possession of proceeds of crime and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 24.
An arrest and search warrant was executed at his Mill Park address early this morning, with police seizing two mobile phones and a significant quantity of cash.
The man is the sixth person to be charged by Taskforce Hawk detectives as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn in January this year.
A 55-year-old Mernda man was charged on March 27 with blackmail.
A 42-year-old Maribyrnong man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on March 18 with blackmail.
A 36-year-old Lalor man was charged on 4 March with blackmail, eight counts of possessing anabolic steroids and unauthorised possession of Schedule 4 poison.
A 32-year-old Eltham man, a patched member and chapter president of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on February 12 with blackmail and failing to comply with a direction to assist (fail to provide pin code). He was further charged on February 26 with two counts of contravening the conditions of bail.
A 32-year-old Watsonia man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on February 12 with failing to comply with a direction to assist (fail to provide a PIN code).
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.
Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
