Charges laid as part of Taskforce Hawk investigation into blackmail

Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have this afternoon charged two men as part of an investigation into blackmail.

A 32-year-old Eltham man was charged with blackmail and fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).

The man will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.

A 32-year-old Watsonia man was charged with fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).

He was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on 2 April.

A 55-year-old Mernda man was released.

The charges relate to allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn on 19 January 2026, when a demand was allegedly made for the victim to pay $663,000.

Operation Hawk was established in July 2024 to specifically target criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry and transitioned to Taskforce Hawk in June 2025.

This was in response to a number of fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour.

Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing new intelligence and evidence relating to allegations of criminal behaviour linked to the construction industry.

It also continues to proactively target organised crime associated with the sector, including a focus on any individuals employed within the construction industry who have known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

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.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Media Unit
145709