Two men have been charged and Victorian police have seized drugs, guns and cars linked to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the building industry. On Monday, detectives from Taskforce Hawk arrested five men and searched six properties including the Victorian headquarters of the union, saying they were investigating secret commissions, fraud and drug trafficking. Police said four CFMEU registered vehicles were seized, as well as 10 mobile phones, a Schedule 4 poison, .22 rifle and ammunition, laptops, documents, iPads and a number of USB storage devices.
No arrests were made at CFMEU headquarters, police said, and administrators for the union said none of its officials had been charged. A 36-year-old from Chirnside Park was charged with possessing a Schedule 4 drug and bailed to appear at Ringwood magistrates court on 10 November, and a 46-year-old from Westbury was charged with failing to store a long-arm firearm and failing to store ammunition as required by the Firearms Act 1996. He was bailed to appear at Latrobe Valley magistrates court on 11 January.
The other men were released pending further inquiries. This was in response to a number of fresh allegations of serious and violent criminal behaviour. The new premier, Ben Carroll, announced a royal commission last week.
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