Police claim breakthrough in Melbourne’s hospitality wars, alleging links to overseas crime figure | Victoria

Police have arrested a man they say led a wave of arson attacks in Melbourne, marking a major development in the escalating hospitality wars.

A 20-year-old man was arrested in the city’s northwest on Tuesday.

Detectives claimed the man was a “high-level” representative of “an organized crime syndicate linked to an offshore leader”.

A police spokesman said: “He is believed to have ‘commissioned’ criminals via encrypted apps for a number of jobs, including a mistaken identity kidnapping in Malvern.”

The kidnapping, which took place in a south-east Melbourne suburb, involved several men attacking a man at his home on April 14 and forcing him into a car.

He was later dropped off outside the hospital. Police believe the victim was not the intended target.

A lawsuit was filed against 4 men regarding the attack.

Investigators also allege the 20-year-old attempted a serious home invasion in Doncaster on April 28.

According to police, the man was allegedly behind a series of arson attacks that led to a major investigation (Operation Eclipse) on April 27.

The operation targets a number of criminal organizations believed to be involved in accommodation-related crimes and determines the motive for these attacks.

“This arrest is the most significant arrest we have made since the start of Operation Eclipse,” Det Insp Graham Banks said on Tuesday. “These crimes are important examples of crimes committed as services, such as kidnapping, home invasion and arson.

“This is a methodology we have seen used for several years before, where criminals in organized crime are tasked with using intimidation tactics.

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies to actively target relevant unions.”