Detectives from Operation Eclipse have this afternoon charged a teenage boy as part of an investigation into offenders believed to be tasking youth to commit criminal offences.
With the assistance of the VIPER Taskforce, a search warrant was executed on 7 October in the Brimbank area.
A 17-year-old boy from the Brimbank area has been charged with traffick commercial quantity methylamphetamine, traffick cocaine, possess cannabis and two counts of possess proceeds of crime.
He will appear at a children's court at a later date.
Investigators seized various quantities of methylamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis, a Rolex watch, a quantity of cash and two mobile phones from his address.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Operation Eclipse was established in April 2026 to target the organised crime syndicate responsible for attacks on licensed venues in central Melbourne, as well against people associated to those businesses.
This operation has now expanded its focus to include other acts of violence directed by this syndicate. Violence, which has been undertaken to extort other legitimate business types and seek to control the illicit drug and tobacco markets.
The operation is led by specialist detectives including the Gang Crime Squad and Arson and Explosives Squad who continue to work closely with local police, in particular regional detectives who continue to respond to and investigate these incidents.
Police continue to have an increased presence in both an overt and covert capacity throughout these entertainment precincts, including increased patrols of these areas and visits to licensed premises, and increased overt patrols within metropolitan suburbs to prevent and abate this offending.
Anyone with information or anyone who witnesses such incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Gus Storer, Operation Eclipse:
"This tasking of youth offenders to commit crimes can be devastating and have lifechanging ramifications for the youths involved in offending, their family members, and the wider community".
"It's a methodology we have seen play out previously over a number of years, with 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 both on and offshore. Victoria Police will do everything we can to hold them accountable".
"I'd urge all parents and caregivers to have conversations with the young people in their lives about what they may be engaging in online. They will be caught, and they will be held to account."
