Two men charged in Echo Taskforce extortion investigation

Detectives from the Echo Taskforce have charged two men as part of their investigation into an alleged extortion of a Campbellfield business.

A 40-year-old Roxburgh Park man, who is an alleged patched member of the Mongols, was arrested yesterday morning with the assistance of the Special Operations Group on Mahoneys Road in Thomastown.

He has been charged with two counts of extortion, two counts of threats to kill, theft of motor vehicle, proceeds of crime offences, possess testosterone, threats to inflict serious injury and possess firearm.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

With further assistance from the VIPER Taskforce, warrants were then executed in Roxburgh Park and Mickleham, as well as the Mongols club house in Port Melbourne.

A 25-year-old Mickleham man was arrested at the Mickleham address.

He was charged with two counts of extortion, threats to kill, threat to inflict serious injury and theft of motor vehicle.

He was also remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.

A 43-year-old Roxburgh Park man was arrested in Melbourne CBD and later released pending summons for handling stolen goods.

The arrests follow an incident in October where the trio allegedly made demands for cash from the owner of a Campbellfield business.

Police will also allege a number of further threats were made over the following weeks, including an incident where a firearm was used and one where a vehicle was taken from the business address.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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