Victoria Police Criminal asset seizure on one criminal group has netted 61 houses and businesses, vehicles worth more than $1.5 million and huge caches of cash. have seized $55 million in assets and cash from "The Octopus" or "Fat Tony", Antonios Sajih Mokbeland crime network.
And police promise more pain for those who aligned themselves with the underworld kingpin. police confiscated a $500,000 property in which a good friend of Mokbel had been living. It is believed some of what was seized by police had been set aside for a war chest to pay for Mokbel's coming legal proceedings, which could cost millions.
Mokbel has been in a Greek jail since his arrest in Athens last June, more than a year after he skipped bail while awaiting sentencing on serious drug charges.
Police have seized 61 houses and businesses from him, his family, associates and others since the Operation Kayak raids of 2001.
In Kayak, police seized $2 billion in drugs and $25 million in assets, and 31 people were arrested in the dawn raids.
In total, 36 cars have now been confiscated, including eight Mercedes-Benzes and six BMWs.
Eleven motorcycles, including four Harley-Davidsons, have been grabbed, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewellery.
Cash totalling more than $1.5 million has been taken and bank accounts holding up to $250,000 each have been confiscated or frozen.
"We're confident we'll find more," said Det-Sgt Jim Coghlan, of the Purana anti-gangland taskforce. "There's more to come."
The house most recently seized was impounded just before Christmas.
A convicted criminal and former lieutenant of Mokbel is believed to have been living there. The man has a conviction for trafficking ecstasy and amphetamines to a police informer on behalf of Mokbel.
Det-Sgt Coghlan, who led the asset confiscation team, said it had been a hard blow to dozens of people close to Mokbel.
"What's the point of (being involved in organised crime) if you can't have the cash and the toys that go with it?" he said.
"They don't mind doing five years, but they get pretty upset if you take their house from them."
Det-Sgt Coghlan said the Office of Public Prosecutions' asset confiscation unit and Australian Taxation Office officials had been key players in hunting and removing the hidden wealth.
The Purana leg of the assets crackdown has followed its successful attack on the gangland war that plagued Victoria and cost 29 lives.
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