Links to the Finks bikie club have emerged in the sprawling investigation into the attempted hit on Mongols member Rocco Curra. Eleven people have been arrested by detectives from the Echo taskforce as part of the major organised crime probe.
After a day of raids across Melbourne, two men were charged with attempting to murder Curra in an ambush at Bulleen last August. One of the warrants was carried out at a Finks clubhouse in an industrial complex in Morialta Rd, Cranbourne West, on Friday.
The Finks have become increasingly active in Melbourne in recent years after many members were earlier incorporated into the Mongols in a hostile takeover. Warrants were also carried out in Werribee, Clyde North, Narre Warren, Mickleham, Brunswick West and Meadow Heights.
A 26-year-old man from Clyde North and a 24-year-old man from Mickleham have been charged with attempted murder and arson. The 24-year-old also faces firearms and drug charges. Officers from Echo, the armed crime squad, the fugitive taskforce, northwest and southern metro and the AFP were involved in the raids.
A 31-year-old Meadow Heights man has been charged with attempting to pervert justice, being an accessory after the fact to attempted murder, cultivating a narcotic plant, possessing cannabis and possessing an imitation firearm.
Also arrested were:
— A Werribee woman, 29, for allegedly trafficking cocaine;
— AnAltonaMeadows man, 36, who faces counts of trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence;
— A man, 25, from Werribee, who has been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence, possessing cocaine, possessing cannabis, handling stolen goods and committing an indictable offence while on bail;
— A werribee man, 18, who was cautioned for cannabis possession;
— A meadow Heights man, 20, and a 35-year-old Brunswick man, who are expected to be charged with drug offences;
— AnAltona Meadows woman, who was charged with cultivating a narcotic plant, possessing cannabis and possessing an imitation firearm;
— A NarreWarren man, 27, who has been charged with possessing an unregistered longarm firearm, possessing an unregistered handgun, cultivating a narcotic plant, possessing cannabis and negligently dealing with the proceeds oMOf crime. He has been bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on March 2.
Footage released recently showed two men get out of a BMW late at night in Bourke St and open fire on a car containing Curra. Police believe he was lured there for a meeting. Curra, 37, a close friend of high-profile Bandido-turned-Mongol Toby Mitchell, was shot in the head and upper body. Police were amazed that he survived.
The BMW used by the gunmen and their getaway driver was later found torched in Templestowe.
Source: The Western Australian