Three men have been captured and twelve properties associated with the Mongols ban cruiser pack attacked over the deadly EastLink shooting of Melbourne fruiterer Paul Virgona.
The Mongols' Port Melbourne clubhouse and the South Melbourne tattoo parlor co-possessed by ex-bikie Toby Mitchell and previous Richmond footballer Jake Ruler were attacked by police in the early long stretches of Wednesday morning.
Mr Virgona, 46, was fiercely executed when his white van was peppered with projectiles as he headed to work along EastLink at Donvale about 2.15am on November 9 a year ago.
The killers waited for the fruiterer to leave his family home in Croydon and followed him in a stolen Mercedes-Benz sedan.
They opened fire just after Mr Virgona passed through the Melba Tunnel, before speeding off and leaving him dead in his van in the middle of the road.
The killers are thought to have switched to a getaway car, a Volkswagen Amarok utility, before dumping it and running into a park.
Police released images of a distinctive Nike top, believed to have been dropped by one of the suspects as they ran through Marie Wallace Bayswater Park after they abandoned the Amarok near Mountain Highway.
At a press conference earlier this month, police revealed they had been able to establish a link to organised crime but were unable to establish a motive for the killing.
On Wednesday morning, police from the homicide squad, the anti-bikie Echo Taskforce and others raided properties in Montrose, Kilsyth, Lilydale, Tecoma, Wantirna South, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Southbank, Noble Park, Croydon and Ferntree Gully.
Jake King was seen at his Clarendon Street tattoo parlour casually talking to officers inside. Mitchell and King are not accused of any involvement or wrongdoing.
A 35-year-old Kilsyth man and a 29-year-old Port Melbourne man are being interviewed by homicide squad detectives.
A Port Melbourne resident said police used a battering ram on the door, before a man they called 'Josh' crawled outside.
"About 5am the lights from the helicopter came on the house. Then the PA, 'come out you’re surrounded'," the resident said.
"He came out in just his undies and they made him crawl onto the road. It was full on. I don’t know what you call them, but the SWAT team, huge guns. They had him sitting on the road for about 20 minutes."
A 30-year-old Montrose man was arrested in Kilsyth and will now be interviewed by detectives from the Echo Taskforce in relation to drug offences.
Police expect to continue searching properties through the day. They have already seized a number of firearms and what appear to be drugs.
Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh said Wednesday’s arrests and warrants were the result of months of hard work by the Echo taskforce, homicide squad and other units across Victoria Police.
"We understand that any time there is an incident involving illicit firearms, particularly one that results in someone being killed in this way, there is enormous concern in the community," she said.
"Today’s activities should send a strong message, especially to those involved in this type of criminal activity, that it’s absolutely not acceptable and Victoria Police is committed to tracking down and targeting those people willing to commit these offences.
We know these groups have long histories of engaging in criminal activity, particularly with regards to the use of illicit firearms, and there is immense potential to endanger innocent members of the public."
"Victoria Police is not intimidated by OMCGs and we will not allow our communities to be."
The investigations remain ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at
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