Victoria Police expands taskforce to curb arson, extortion and related crimes in Melbourne

Victoria Police announced on Sunday that it will broaden the scope of Operation Phoenix, a taskforce that targets arson attacks, extortion, drive‑by shootings and vehicle thefts linked to organised crime groups. The expansion will see patrols move from the north‑west suburbs into Melbourne’s central business district, as well as the city’s southern and eastern suburbs, with additional officers deployed to regional locations based on intelligence assessments.

The decision follows concerns that young offenders are being recruited by senior figures in organised crime networks to carry out serious offences. Police cited the influence of a tobacco‑related crime figure, Kazem Hamad, and reported infighting within his criminal organisation as factors driving the recent surge in fire‑bombings and shootings across the metropolitan area.

Operation Phoenix was launched in July and, according to police statements, has resulted in 236 arrests, many of which involved organised‑crime and extortion‑related offences. The taskforce originally operated in Melbourne’s north‑west suburbs with overnight patrols, and its success prompted the integration of resources from Operation Trinity, a separate initiative that focused on aggravated burglaries.

By merging personnel and intelligence from both operations, Victoria Police aims to increase visibility and deterrence across a wider geographic area. Officers will continue to conduct targeted patrols, gather intelligence on gang activities, and work with community partners to identify and intervene with vulnerable youth who may be exploited by criminal networks.