Exclusive behind the scenes vision of officers from Operation Skyborne executing warrants on Middle Eastern organised crime gangs. Courtesy Victoria Police
THE alleged ringleader of a major criminal syndicate at the centre of raids across Melbourne this morning has appeared in court.
Alleged ringleader Fadi Haddara, 36, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning after police charged him with 17 drugs, weapons and violence offences.
He was one of six people brought through court, including his cousin Ziad, of more than 20 people arrested following the raids.
Sources have told the Herald Sun four Haddaras in total have been arrested so far including another of Fadi Haddara’s cousins and his sister.
During a bail application for co-accused Aysun Hanay, the court heard Fadi Haddara was the main target of police operation.
Dozens of people have been arrested and guns, drugs and cash have been seized in a series of raids across Melbourne by the The Santiago Taskforce. Courtesy Channel Ten
The court heard telephone intercepts would make up a large part of the police case against the accused.
Fadi Haddara, dressed in a black jumper and track suit pants, appeared only briefly for a short filing hearing.
His lawyer, Zarah Garde Wilson, told the court Mr Haddara did not seek to apply for bail at this stage.
A brief of evidence must be prepared by June before Mr Haddara returns to court on July 22.
Police raids at Orange St, in Williamstown. Photo: Ellen Smith
Duy Pham, 30, was the first to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court shortly before 3.30pm.
Dressed in a blue and white striped t-shirt he sat silently as a translator interpreted the brief administrative hearing.
The court heard he faced two charges, a single count each of possessing and trafficking cannabis, and did not seek to apply for bail.
Police have confirmed seven people - all aged in their 20s and 30s - have so far been charged following the massive operation that saw 700 police raid dozens of homes.
Ballarat Constable Jeremy Stevens with a tobacco crop seized as part of the raids.
The raids took place on 45 properties in 23 suburbs including Altona North, Williamstown North, Truganina, Sunshine, Keilor Downs, Corio, Melton South, Broadmeadows, Meadow Heights, South Yarra, Pascoe Vale and Maribyrnong.
Police raid a home at Altona North as part of raids targeting an alleged organised crime syndicates. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
A Australian Tax Office (ATO) agent involved in the raids.
Fadi Haddara was arrested with two other men during a raid at Melbourne A Class Smash Repairs on Orange Ave in Williamstown North.
The men were expected to face charges of drug trafficking.
A woman is taken by police after a raid at a property in Altona North. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Police also seized drugs including 100kg dried cannabis, more than 12 firearms including a handgun with a silencer and a high-powered assault rifle, $55,000 cash, ammunition, vehicles and stolen property during the raids.
A clandestine laboratory was found at a home in Hampshire St, Sunshine.
A crop of 35,000 tobacco plants was uncovered at a Moorabool property on the Geelong-Ballan Rd near Geelong.
Police said another five people were expected to be charged on summons on a string of offences, three were cautioned, three were released pending further inquiries and two others are still in custody and are helping police with their investigations.
A late model BMW is taken from a house in Altona North. Picture. Nicole Garmston
A 700-strong force was involved in the operation, dubbed Skyborne, after Taskforce Santiago’s investigations into the alleged involvement of the “well-known family-based syndicate” since late last year.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said the tobacco plantation was “a really sophisticated setup” with three large paddocks fenced off and covered with shade cloth.
He said it was of particular interest to the ATO, who had sent officers to the rural property to investigate further.
“Tobacco is generally about dodging tax,” he said.
Police guarding a house in Altona North. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Mr Fontana said while the gang had Middle Eastern connections, it primarily focused its criminal activities in the Melbourne area and also had links to the theft and trade of stolen vehicles.
Mr Fontana praised the efforts and results of the members involved.
“This was high risk operation,” he said.
“A number of individuals there we considered to be extremely dangerous.
Police speak to men near the raided home at Altona North. Picture: Nicole Garmston
“We had the Special Operations Group conduct three of those arrests for us.
“Were very happy that none of our members were injured in the course of this operation.
“We went in with enough information to charge 19 individuals. It’s been a real bonus in terms of what we found at these particular addresses, so there will be additional charges and additional people charged.”
He said some of those arrested were found in possession of drugs, including methamphetamine.
Police raid Melbourne A Class Smash Repairs in Williamstown.
But of more concern were the high-powered weapons seized, he said.
“This syndicate is alleged over a number of years to be heavily involved in firearms trafficking,” he said.
He warned Melbourne’s crime gangs that they would be caught: “We’re not going to stop our investigations. If they want to get involved in criminal activity, and some of this is quite violent activity, we’re going to target them.”
Police swarmed on a home in Vanderbilt Drive, Truganina, in Melbourne’s west before dawn, arresting two men.
Police towed away a motorbike, quad bike and Mercedes Benz from Williamstown.
Det-Sgt Gary Wilson said police were predominantly looking for drugs, but would not say if any were found at the house.
A woman at the home who gave her name as Loussi Briten said the men arrested were her husband Antonio and her husband’s brother Rabieh Haddara.
She said the trio were due to leave for Lebanon on Monday.
A distressed Ms Briten, who said she used to go by the surname Haddara, told the Herald Sun she did not know why “many, many” police had stormed her house in the early hours of the morning.
“My husband is good, we’re quiet,” she said.
“I don’t know why (this happened).”
She said officers searched her and took her car, phone and iPad in the raid.
A woman wearing a hijab tried to cover her face as she was taken away by police from a home on Third Avenue in Altona North.
The house belongs to the Haddara family.
Santiago Taskforce detectives swooped on the property, which was believed to have two women and three children inside, about 4.30am.
A white Mercedes four-wheel-drive parked in the driveway was put on a tow truck and taken away by police.
Police search and rescue crews were brought in to search the roof of the single-storey brick home.
A police drug sniffer dog were also used to search the property.
About a kilometre away, a white BMW parked outside a house on Seventh Avenue was also taken away on a tow truck, with police closing off the road between Douglas St and Berkeley Crescent as it was removed.
About a dozen uniform police officers stood guard as plain-clothes detectives searched the single-storey brick house.
Two young children peered from behind curtains as they removed large paper bags, wheelie bags and an esky with what appeared to be evidence.
A group of men of Middle Eastern appearance also stood and watched as the police worked.
samantha.landy@news.com.au; rebekah.cavanag@news.com.au
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