- Published:
- Wednesday 22 April 2026 at 11:50 am
Detectives from Taskforce Hawk have today charged a sixth man as part of an investigation into blackmail.
A 32-year-old Mill Park man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was arrested this morning and interviewed by police.
He has subsequently been charged with blackmail and possess proceeds of crime and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 April.
A warrant was executed at his Mill Park address early this morning, with police seizing two mobile phones and a significant quantity of cash.
The man is the sixth person to be charged by Taskforce Hawk detectives as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of blackmail committed at a business in Brooklyn in January this year.
A 55-year-old Mernda man was charged on 27 March with blackmail.
A 42-year-old Maribyrnong man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on 18 March with blackmail.
A 36-year-old Lalor man was charged on 4 March with blackmail, eight counts of possess anabolic steroids and unauthorised person possess Schedule 4 poison.
A 32-year-old Eltham man, a patched member and chapter president of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on 12 February with blackmail and fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code). He was further charged on 26 February charged with two counts of contravene conduct condition of bail.
A 32-year-old Watsonia man, a patched member of the Bandidos OMCG, was charged on 12 February with fail to comply direction to assist (fail to provide pin code).
Taskforce Hawk was established to specifically target the infiltration of serious and organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) into major Victorian Government infrastructure projects and the construction industry.
Taskforce Hawk is focused on assessing and investigating 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 organised crime and 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.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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