Five men have been arrested after detectives investigating fresh allegations of drug trafficking and corruption in the construction industry raided properties in Victoria this morning.
Victoria Police said detectives with Taskforce Hawk executed warrants at six addresses as part of an investigation into alleged secret commissions.
One of the premises was the Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, headquarters of the CFMEU.
Police said they seized four CFMEU-registered vehicles, 10 mobile phones, a schedule 4 poison, laptops, iPads and USB devices as well as a range of documents.
They said none of the arrests occurred at the union’s office.
Detectives leave the CFMEU office with bagged evidence after the raid. (ABC News)
The other properties raided were in eastern suburb Chirnside Park, the towns of Powelltown and Westbury, east of Melbourne, Gisborne, north-west of the city, and Somerville on the Mornington Peninsula.
Police said detectives were assisted by the Cybercrime Squad and the VIPER organised crime squad.
A 36-year-old Chirnside Park man was charged with drug possession and released on bail to appear in court in November.
A 46-year-old from Westbury was released on bail to appear in court in January on charges of failing to properly store a .22 rifle and ammunition.
A 27-year-old from Gisborne, a 56-year-old from Powelltown and a 37-year-old from Somerville were released pending further enquiries.
Speaking after the arrests, Detective Acting Superintendent Jamie Walker said today’s searches related to fresh allegations relating to conduct in the construction industry.
“Criminal conduct involving corruption, intimidation and violence within the construction industry is unacceptable,” Acting Superintendent Walker said.
“We will continue to target serious and organised crime entities and dismantle corrupt and criminal business activities in the construction industry.
“If you have any information, no matter how small you think it may be, please come forward and we will support and protect you.”
The CFMEU’s Elizabeth Street office has been raided by Taskforce Hawk investigators. (ABC News)
CFMEU administrator Michael Crosby said the union was cooperating with police.
He said any employees found to have engaged in anything illegal would lose their jobs.
“Criminals and bad actors in construction remain a major threat to the workers, which is why we need greater regulation and scrutiny across the sector,” Mr Crosby said.
“This administration has undertaken unprecedented reform and anyone associated with criminal elements will have absolutely no place in this union’s future.”
He said the CFMEU would conduct an internal investigation after today’s search warrants.
“There is a presumption of innocence and the branch will continue to offer support whilst the investigation is ongoing,” Mr Crosby said.
“The CFMEU administrator has requested Taskforce Hawk provide any information it can to the union to assist in its internal investigations.
“The administration is two years into a five-year process and has overseen the most significant reform in the union’s history, with the removal of 180 staff, including former leadership.”
Taskforce Hawk was set up in June 2024 to investigate criminal behaviour in the construction sector, including the infiltration by outlaw motorcycle gangs of major Victorian government infrastructure projects.
Victoria Police has described a secret commission as “corruptly giving, receiving or soliciting an undisclosed financial benefit, reward, payment or kickback”.
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After taking over as Victorian premier, Ben Carroll announced a royal commission would be held into corruption in the construction sector.
Last week, he announced former South Australian Supreme Court chief justice Christopher Kourakis would head the royal commission and released the terms of reference.
These include the conduct of the CFMEU, construction companies and labour hire firms, as well as the role of government executives, departments and delivery agencies in overseeing infrastructure projects.
This morning, Mr Carroll said the royal commission’s investigation would run alongside the police operation.
“You’ve got to have a multi-pronged approach,” he said.
“[Victoria Police] will do their work; where a royal commission is different is it has those coercive powers to call people before it, to gather all the evidence.
“Then the special prosecutor will work in conjunction with the royal commission to do any of the prosecutorial work through [Victoria Police] or through the Office of Public Prosecutions.”