Victoria Police's new organised crime-tackling task force arrested 10 people in its first five days.
The task force, dubbed "Viper" for Visibility, Intelligence, Prevention, Enforcement and Reassurance, kicked off in earnest on July 6, with a focus on criminal networks, including bikie gangs.
In the task force's first five days, police checked more than 270 people, arrested 10, intercepted 85 vehicles, and doled out more than 30 charges.
Among those arrested was a 37-year-old ex-Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang member, and a 33-year-old woman, both charged with drug and proceeds-of-crime offences.
Officers allegedly found nearly $50,000 in cash during a search on July 7 at Berwick in Melbourne's southeast, along with drugs believed to be methylamphetamine.
The following day, they allegedly found cocaine in a car, and tracked down more drugs at two residential addresses.
A 24-year-old man was arrested, charged with trafficking a drug of dependence, and remanded in custody.
On July 10, officers arrested a 42-year-old man wanted over a number of armed robberies, and allegedly found several edged weapons in his vehicles.
He was remanded in custody, having been charged with a string of offences, including robbery and stealing a motor vehicle.
On Wednesday, officers found a clandestine laboratory in Melbourne's northwest that was used to manufacture steroids, prescription drugs and MDMA.
They arrested four people connected with the Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang and subsequently charged two women and a man with drug offences.
The four arrests were in addition to the 10 in the task force's first five days.
Task Force Viper was announced earlier this month by Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton after a spate of shootings in Melbourne, which police believed were connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The task force's first week was a solid one, and gave officers insight into how they could further target criminal groups, Detective Inspector Anthony Brown said.
"It's also been interesting getting feedback - a lot of people our officers engaged with were aware of Viper Taskforce and that we will be keeping the pressure on them in relation to their criminality," he said.
"We want to create the most hostile environment for organised crime in Victoria, and this week has reinforced the approach we are going to take."
