By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A 37-YEAR-OLD Endeavour Hills man, with alleged links to the Finks bikie club, has been charged with 12 offences including extortion after police raided about 20 properties across the state this week .
Set to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, the man was remanded in custody after a warrant was executed at a Kassan Gardens house about 6am on Tuesday 15 December, at the same time police raided the Finks clubhouse in Ringwood and more homes throughout the state.
He was charged with conspiracy to extort, conspiracy to commit an aggravated burglary, prohibited person in possession of firearms, and a number of bail offences.
Seventeen men and one woman were arrested in the bikie raids – in suburbs including Carnegie, Edithvale, Croydon North and Healesville – and are currently assisting police with their inquiries.
The 20 warrants were executed by the Echo Taskforce, the Federal Police and Australian Border Force.
Operation Irrevocable was set up to focus on the criminal activities of the Finks, believed to be involved in aggravated burglaries, attempted kidnap, firearm offences and drug trafficking.
The Queensland chapter of the Finks has already been targeted by police in recent weeks, with six members facing a total of 31 charges including the possession of dangerous drugs and counterfeit currency.
The investigation is ongoing.
