Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad have this morning arrested a man believed to be tasking offenders with home invasions, arsons and kidnapping linked to the targeting of hospitality venues.
With assistance from Operation Eclipse detectives, a search warrant was executed at a residential address in Essendon around 8.30am.
A 20-year-old Essendon man has been taken into custody and will now be interviewed by detectives.
Police will allege the man is high ranking within an organised criminal syndicate linked to an offshore leader.
It is believed he 'tasked' offenders via encrypted applications for numerous jobs, including a mistaken identity kidnapping in Malvern, an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster and an attempted arson on a Southbank licensed premises in April.
Police were called to reports a man was kidnapped in Malvern on Tuesday, 14 April. It is understood a number of male offenders arrived in a vehicle outside the residential address just after 9pm.
Investigators were told a male occupant came to the door before the offenders entered the house, assaulting him and forcing him into a waiting vehicle.
The man was later dropped off at a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police believe the incident was targeted but at the wrong address. Four males have been charged in relation to the incident.
Investigators will also allege that he tasked an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster on 28 April. Uniform police were in the street for an unrelated matter and the offending did not occur.
Two boys were charged after a proactive patrol of Southbank on 27 April foiled what is alleged to be an attempted arson attack on a licensed premises around 4am.
The boys were allegedly seen putting on balaclavas and latex gloves before police swooped-in, arresting the pair.
A vehicle, believed to be used by the pair was found parked near-by containing jerry cans and a sledge- hammer.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Operation Eclipse commenced on 27 April to target a range of serious and organised crime syndicates believed to be involved in a series of offending linked to hospitality venues, as well as determining the motive for these attacks.
The operation, led by specialist detectives including the Gang Crime Squad and Arson and Explosives Squad continues to work closely with local police, in particular regional detectives who continue to respond to and investigate these incidents.
The specialist resources in Operation Eclipse will focus on the organisers and those pulling the strings.
Investigators are continuing to look at all possible motivations behind the offending including who is involved and why.
Police remain open to a range of possibilities, and we encourage anyone with any information to come forward.
Police continue to have an increased presence in both an overt and a covert capacity throughout these entertainment precincts, including increased patrols of these areas and visits to licensed premises.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Graham Banks, Operation Eclipse:
"This arrest is the most consequential we have made since the inception of Operation Eclipse. These offences are significant examples of crime as a service - the alleged tasking of kidnapping, home invasion and arson.
"It's a methodology we have seen play out previously over a number of years, organised crime tasking of offenders to commit intimidatory tactics. We saw this through Taskforce Lunar and fully understand the complexities around investigating and disrupting this serious offending.
"We will continue working with our partner agencies to actively target those syndicates involved. Victoria Police will do everything we can to hold them accountable."
