AN alleged family-based, multimillion-dollar heroin trafficking ring operated from a modest Melbourne housing commission flat, a court has heard.
Twelve people have so far been charged in connection with the organised crime syndicate while police are interviewing others.
The charges followed a massive raid on 14 properties in Melbourne's inner and western suburbs from 5am (AEST) yesterday.
Police and the Australian Crime Commission arrested 21 people and seized millions of dollars worth of property, heroin, cash and Crown Casino gaming chips during the raids.
About $20 million worth of residential and commercial real estate as well as $3 million in cash and heroin believed to have a street value of several million dollars was seized, police said.
Eight people faced a marathon two-and-a-half-hour, out-of-sessions court hearing before a bail justice at the St Kilda Road police complex late Thursday night, where details of the alleged offending emerged.
Thi Nho Le, 46, of Keilor Downs; her husband Thanh Hai Pham, 46; Le's sister Thi Nho Em Le, 44, of Fitzroy; her de facto husband Khai Sin Mong, 60; Muoi Van Le, 32, of Fitzroy, the younger brother of the Le women; and his de facto wife Nga Thi Pham, 32, also of Fitzroy, have each been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence (heroin), conspiracy to traffick a large commercial quantity of heroin and trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin.
Detective Sergeant James Cole of the Drug Task Force told the hearing the six were involved in a sophisticated heroin manufacturing, sale and distribution operation operating across metropolitan Melbourne.
He said the syndicate produced more than 30kg of heroin between December last year and Thursday, gaining more than $20 million in assets from the operation.
Members laundered money by buying residential and commercial properties in Australia and their native Vietnam, hiding money in bank accounts in the names of relatives, sending money to Vietnam and by gambling in the high roller Mahogany Room at Crown Casino.
They also ran a loan-sharking business.
The four from Fitzroy shared the same housing commission flat.
Another woman, Kim Tho Huynh, 41, who lives in the same block of flats, was charged with trafficking a drug of dependence (heroin) and trafficking a drug of dependence to a child.
Det Sgt Cole alleged Huynh used a child to collect quantities of heroin from the first flat.
Houng Vo, 49, also of the Fitzroy, faces a single charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity of heroin.
It's alleged she and Huynh sold the heroin to street-level dealers for distribution.
Det Sgt Cole told the hearing all eight had access to substantial sums of cash and assets and were serious flight risks.
All eight appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today when they were remanded in custody.
Four others charged with drug offences appeared in the same court today.
They will appear again in court on April 1.
Four more people are expected to be charged on summons with drug offences.
After the hearing, Det Sgt Cole said he expected further charges would be laid.
The raids are the result of a 10-month operation - one of the largest of its type - investigating a suspected organised crime syndicate involved in importing and distributing drugs, police said
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