Two charged, CFMEU offices raided as police investigate Victorian construction sector

Two men have been charged with gun and drug offences after a string of police raids linked to the Victorian construction industry, including one on the Melbourne headquarters of the troubled Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

Detectives from Taskforce Hawk executed warrants at six addresses on Monday, including at the CFMEU offices on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD.

The raids were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of “secret commissions”, police said.

Five men were arrested and were interviewed by police. None of the arrests were made at the CFMEU headquarters.

A 36-year-old Chirnside Park man was charged with possessing schedule 4 drug and was bailed to appear before court on November 10.

A 46-year-old man from Westbury was charged with failing to store a long arm firearm and failing to store ammunition as required by the Firearms Act 1996.

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He was bailed to appear before court on January 11.

The remaining three men were released without charge.

Police seized four CFMEU-registered vehicles, 10 mobile phones, a schedule 4 poison, laptops, documents, iPads and USB storage devices.

Detectives were seen entering the offices and leaving with what appeared to be bags of evidence.

A .22 rifle and ammunition, which police allege were not stored lawfully, were also seized from an address in Westbury.

Taskforce Hawk, which was set up in July 2024, is probing alleged criminal behaviour within the construction industry, with a particular focus on the Victorian branch of the CFMEU.

Victoria Police said the investigation also relates to allegations of drug trafficking.

“Criminal conduct, involving corruption, intimidation and violence within the construction industry is unacceptable,” Detective Acting Superintendent Jamie 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 charges come after former Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka was arrested on August 14 and faced further charges as part of an investigation into allegedly threatening and harassing emails sent to CFMEU administrators.

Setka resigned as the CFMEU’s Victorian boss in 2024 after media reports uncovered alleged criminal infiltration of the union.

The union’s construction and general divisions were placed under administration by the federal government in 2024 in response to the allegations.

Police are also investigating allegations of corruption to supply information to an impending royal commission into the building industry.