Contraband seized at Vic detention centre

Drug paraphernalia and a homemade tattoo gun were among items seized in a raid on Melbourne's Maribyrnong immigration detention centre.

Australian Border Force officers conducted the raids in co-operation with the detention centre's operator, Serco Australia, on Friday morning as part of a wider crackdown on criminal behaviour among detainees.

Announcing the raids on Sunday evening, an ABF spokesman said the raids were an important safety measure.

"The key message is we have a zero tolerance to illegal behaviour in our centres," he said.

"Detainees found in possession of illegal contraband may face criminal charges."

Visitors are thought to be the major source of the seized contraband, he said.

The raids came just hours before Friday's bungled announcement of Operation Fortitude, a controversial visa checking blitz planned for Melbourne over the weekend. The operation was aborted amid public ridicule and protests.