Advertisement
Illicit drugs, steroids, weapons and cash have been seized during an early morning raid as part of a wider investigation into alleged drug trafficking on Victorian construction sites.
Three properties in Mulgrave, Heathmont and Fitzroy were raided by Taskforce Hawk investigators early on Thursday.
Police allege a 35-year-old CFMEU delegate was one of three people importing drugs and steroids through the mail and trafficking them at construction sites across Melbourne.
In footage released by police, the Mulgrave man was shown being escorted by police from a property on a suburban street in Melbourne’s south-east.
Advertisement
A 32-year-old Fitzroy man and a 27-year-old Fitzroy woman were also arrested.
Steroids and peptides, drug paraphernalia, a large amount of cash, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis, electronic devices, a taser, two extendable batons and OC spray were among the items seized by police.
The two men were charged with trafficking anabolic steroids and drug and weapon possession.
They are both due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in January.
Advertisement
The 27-year-old woman was released with an intent to summons.
The arrests follow separate raids on Wednesday at the home of former sacked CFMEU boss John Perkovic, as part of a wider investigation into suspected corruption and money laundering.
In August, five CFMEU officials were arrested during a police raid on the union’s Victorian headquarters over drug trafficking and corruption allegations.
A royal commission into the state’s construction sector will be led by former SA chief justice Chris Kourakis.
Former union leader John Setka also appeared in court on Thursday following his arrest in November.
Advertisement
The sacked CFMEU leader is accused of breaching court orders and using a carriage service to menace, harass and offend the embattled union’s government appointed administrator.
In February, a landmark report into CFMEU corruption in Big Build projects alleged some large construction sites were converted by bikie gangs into “drug distribution centres”, with rival gangs fighting for control over individual building sites.
Explore our investigation
- How we got here: Labor, the CFMEU and the $109 billion question that Victorians want answered.
- ‘Rotting from the top’: How bribery, drugs, and bikies likely cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
- Bombshell briefing: Advisers sought to warn Jacinta Allan of union misconduct and criminal infiltration on the Big Build long before the scandal broke.
- The cost: CFMEU price tag of each Metro station revealed.
- Treatment of women: A company that secured contracts as the leading women-led supplier of female workers on Labor’s Big Build is owned by a male serial domestic violence abuser.
Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
More:
Shelby Brooks is a breaking news reporter at The Age.Connect via email.Eleanor Campbell is a breaking news reporter at The Age.Connect via email.AdvertisementAdvertisement