Family members among Vic heroin accused

Members of four families are among 13 people who have appeared in court over a major Melbourne drug bust.

A mother and son, another mother and two daughters, two sisters and a husband, and a husband and wife, are among those who have been remanded in custody.

Prosecutor Julian Ayres told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court the arrests came after an eight-month investigation into a heroin trafficking operation, which developed over time and was ongoing.

Mr Ayres told the court police and prosecutors needed more time than usual to prepare the case because of its size and complexity.

"It involves significant amounts of telephone intercepts and listening device material, much of which is in the Vietnamese language and needs to be translated," he said on Friday.

The court heard there was also vision secretly recorded in a bedroom and a kitchen.

Police earlier alleged members of the syndicate kept cash hidden in children's toys as it pulled in $250,000 a week.

Police made the arrests in raids on nine properties on Thursday, allegedly seizing $500,000 in cash and more than that in heroin.

Police allege the ring imported high-grade heroin, broke it down to multiply it, and then sold it on to street dealers.

Those who appeared in court on heroin trafficking charges were:

* Suzanne Collins, 64, and her son, Juan Linton, 40, both of Mentone;

* Holly Walker, 32, of Thornbury;

* Men Thi Tran, 38, and her sister Nhung Do, 26, all of Richmond;

* Uyen Thi Phuong Thai, 36, of Flemington;

* Minh Triet Nguyen, 30, of Flemington;

* Thi Kim Van La, 43, and Hung Phung Tieu, 50, both of Fitzroy;

* Ut Thi Nguyen, 59, of Sunshine North;

* Linh Anh Trinh, 26, her sister Thuy Hoang Trinh, and their 60-year-old mother Suong Thu Pham, all of Braybrook.

All 13 were remanded in custody to reappear on January 30.