A Truganina man will face court in July following police raids across the northern and western suburbs.
As reported by the Weekly, the raids were carried out by more than 700 police and targeted a major crime syndicate.
Ziad Haddara, 39, faces five charges, including drug trafficking. He was arrested during a pre-dawn raid on his house on March 18.
Haddara faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when he was remanded in custody.
Police also arrested Haddara’s cousin, Fadi Haddara, 36, of Altona North.
He was arrested at a smash repairs businesses in Orange Avenue, Williamstown North.
He faces 17 charges relating to drugs, violence and weapons offences and will also face the Melbourne Magistrates Court in July.
Twenty-seven people were arrested during the raids. Five have been released and are expected to be charged on summons, while three have been cautioned and three others released pending further inquiries.
Five men will face Melbourne Magistrates Court in July.
Warrants for the raids were issued following an investigation by the Santiago taskforce, which was set up in October 2008 to address serious and organised crime, including shooting incidents involving a number of families and their associates.
More than 35,000 tobacco plants and an assault weapon were seized in the raids, which police said disrupted the workings of the gang.
Drugs, including 100 kilograms of cannabis, and $55,000 cash, ammunition, vehicles and stolen property were also confiscated.
Police were supported by the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Taxation Office and customs officers.
