Vic raids net drugs worth $6 million

Police believe they have arrested the ring leader of an international drug syndicate after raids across Melbourne and New Zealand netted more than $6 million worth of drugs.

A sawn-off shotgun was seized along with a large amount of cash and 10 cars, including a Porsche from an Essendon home.

Fifteen search warrants were executed at homes and businesses across Melbourne, with eight men arrested and charged.

Two others were released pending summons.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said on Wednesday some of those arrested have been linked to violent crimes.

"A number of individuals in custody at the moment are linked to a large group of individuals that have been causing havoc across the north western suburbs of Melbourne, in terms of committing commercial burglaries, armed robberies and other violent crime."

Police also believe they have successfully grabbed the ringleader.

"We've targeted a person that we believe was at the top of this group," he said.

He said the Wednesday raids would affect the availability of heroin on the streets of Melbourne and crimes relating to it.

More than 10 kilograms of heroin, 7.5kg of ecstasy and a smaller quantity of cocaine was found during the simultaneous raids.

In a joint operation at the same time as the Victorian raids, 12kg of heroin was seized by New Zealand police in Auckland.

Australian Federal Police acting commander Matt Warren said investigators were working on tracing the drugs' passage into the country.

"We're seeing linkages through Pakistan and Afghanistan, that's a well-established heroin production and trafficking route," he said.

"New Zealand has been used as a transit point for heroin as part of this operation."

Mr Fontana said the raids' success showed how agencies could co-operate well.

"It's just the way we should be working," Mr Fontana said.

"That's where we're getting the biggest bang for buck in terms of results."

Mr Fontana said there were a large number of syndicates police were working on and they would get results.

More than 180 police across a number of agencies, including the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and other agencies took part in the raids without incident.

They began when intelligence identified a longstanding international crime syndicate was targeting Australia and New Zealand with heroin.

Melbourne suburbs raided include Wollert, Roxburgh Park, Epping, Bundoora, Essendon, Docklands, Campbellfield, Hadfield, Glenroy, Fitzroy, Meadow Heights, Narre Warren North, Dandenong and Brunswick.

The accused face charges including trafficking a large commercial quantity of heroin and are due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 24.

CHARGED IN DRUG RAIDS

A 49-year-old man from Wollert

A 40-year-old man from Roxburgh Park

A 30-year-old man from Docklands

A 23-year-old man from Essendon

A 22-year-old man from Glenroy

A 26-year-old man from Bundoora

A 52-year-old man from Brunswick

A 48-year-old man from Narre Warren North

(Source: Victoria Police)