Victoria Police have arrested nine men as part of an ongoing Taskforce Echo investigation into an alleged violent incident at a licensed premises in Sale, Gippsland. The arrests followed a series of search warrants conducted across Melbourne and regional Victoria on 9 September 2026.

Police said the investigation relates to an incident at a licensed premises on York Street, Sale, on 15 August. According to investigators, a group of men approached five other males at approximately 5:15pm and allegedly began harassing them. Police allege the confrontation developed into an affray in which several people were injured. One victim reportedly suffered a fractured jaw.

As part of the investigation, Taskforce Echo detectives carried out ten warrants on 9 September. The operation involved officers from several specialist and regional police units. Warrants were executed at residential properties in Safety Beach, Carrum Downs, Doncaster East, Lynbrook, Ringwood, Selby, Metung and Sale, as well as at a Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang clubhouse in Cranbourne West.

Nine men were arrested during the operation. They included a 34-year-old Safety Beach man, a 35-year-old Carrum Downs man, a 24-year-old Doncaster East man, a 29-year-old Lynbrook man, a 23-year-old Blackburn North man, a 37-year-old Ringwood man, a 35-year-old Selby man, a 29-year-old Metung man and a 25-year-old Sale man. All nine were interviewed by police.

Five of the men have been charged. The Safety Beach, Carrum Downs and Lynbrook men were each charged with intentionally causing injury and affray. The Doncaster East man faces charges including affray, publicly displaying prohibited insignia, possessing imitation firearms, possessing prohibited weapons and possessing steroids. The Sale man has been charged with affray.

Police also seized a number of items during the searches. At a Doncaster East property, investigators allegedly found two gel-blaster assault rifles, two gel-blaster handguns, prohibited weapons and steroids. These seizures form part of the broader investigation and may be examined by detectives as they continue establishing the circumstances of the alleged incident.

The five charged men were granted bail and are scheduled to appear at Sale Magistrates’ Court on 9 February 2027. The other four men arrested during the operation were released while police conduct further inquiries.

Victoria Police said the investigation remains ongoing and has encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact Crime Stoppers. Investigators may continue examining evidence obtained during the searches, interviewing witnesses and assessing the roles allegedly played by those involved.

The arrests represent a significant development in the investigation, but allegations remain untested in court. The men charged are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.