Pair charged with Eastlink homicide

A Noble Park residence is among 12 properties raided by police in relation to Mongols outlaw bikie gang and the fatal shooting of fruiterer Paul Virgona on Eastlink last year.

Two men have been charged with murder after the simultaneous raids at 5am on Wednesday 22 January, which included Mongols clubhouses in Ferntree Gully and Port Melbourne.

The 35-year-old Kilsyth man and 29-year-old Port Melbourne man faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that day.

A Tecoma man, 30, was charged with possessing a drug of dependence. A 30-year-old Montrose man was arrested and released pending further enquiries.

Police say they have also seized firearms and drugs, and a boat and trailer.

Among the properties raided were commercial premises in South Melbourne and Port Melbourne, as well as homes in Montrose, Kilsyth, Lilydale, Tecoma, Wantirna South, Southbank and Croydon.

Police officers from Homicide Squad, Echo Taskforce, Special Operations Group, Crime Command and other units conducted the raids.

Mr Virgona, 46, of Croydon, was fatally shot in his vehicle whilst driving on Eastlink in Donvale on the morning of 9 November 2019.

He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.