An organised crime ring linked to a Melbourne underworld figure has been smashed as the Victorian government considers a string of new anti-bikie laws.
Twenty-four people have been charged by the Echo Taskforce as part of a probe into a Middle Eastern organised crime ring connected to drug kingpin George Marrogi.
A 52-year-old Roxburgh Park man is the suspected head of Marrogi's money laundering arm and has been charged with recklessly dealing in proceeds of indictable crime greater than $10 million, among other offences.
He and a 32-year-old Broadmeadows woman have already faced court, with another 15 to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
In April last year, Marrogi was charged for ordering associates to import drugs from prison while awaiting sentencing over a daylight shooting murder near a bus shelter outside Campbellfield Plaza on September 26, 2016.
A court last month heard Marrogi dragged his girlfriend into the plot, with the pair to be sentenced on February 24 after pleading guilty to drug-trafficking charges.
A broader investigation into his criminal syndicate has led to the seizure of $40 million in assets, including about $2.2 million in cash, a stolen $400,000 Porsche, five firearms and kilograms of heroin, ice and cocaine.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said police would continue to target the crime ring's ill-gotten assets in a bid to cripple the outfit.
"They will not retain any benefit from their unlawful activity. Asset confiscation is an effective way to erode the powerbase of organised crime groups," he said.
The bust comes as police push for new laws to crackdown on bikie gangs wearing patches and badges with their insignias in public, bringing Victoria into line with Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.
The Victorian government is considering the move alongside a number of recommendations as part of a review into criminal organisation laws.
"We commissioned the stage two review of Victoria's criminal organisation laws to ensure the laws on organised crime in Victoria are as strong as possible," a government spokesman said.
"We'll continue to work through the recommendations with Victoria Police to give them the tools they need to continue to deal with criminal behaviour."
Opposition police spokesman and former cop Brad Battin said Victoria could ill-afford to be seen as Australia's bikies haven and the state should follow the lead of NSW and Queensland.
"It's really time that we start to work on ensuring community safety is put first," he told reporters.
"Every time we have massive ride throughs, like The Finks did recently, that takes up so many police resources, which is less people in stations protecting you at home."
