DOZENS of police, including federal officers, swooped on the CBD in a mystery raid that saw them take bag loads of evidence from a Ryrie St business on Wednesday.

They went to multiple business and a home in Kilgour St before focusing on the first floor premises of Startup Cloud.

Federal investigators remained there until 3pm and officers were seen taking boxes, suitcases and garbage bags of material from the premises.

Startup Cloud is a digital business hub that allows people to rent a desk and computer to run individual businesses in one main location.

It’s believed one of Startup Cloud’s customers may have been the focus of the police blitz.

Startup Cloud owner Todd Hubers distanced himself from the operation and said he was shocked to learn of the seriousness of the investigation.

“It’s not to do with the business itself but someone working from here. At the time I was working from home and they called to say the operation was going on,” Mr Hubers said.

“It came as quite a shock.”

Police allowed clients at the hub to come and go on Wednesday.

media_camera Startup Cloud owner Todd Hubers. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Chris Akins, whose boss leases a desk at Startup Cloud, said he didn’t know much about the man police were looking for.

“It didn’t really interrupt our work day, we just wanted to go about normal business as usual,” Mr Akins said.

“They left us alone once they understood what a co-working space was.”

Police remained tight-lipped about the nature of the operation, which began about 10.30am.

“The Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police are currently conducting operational activity in Geelong,” an AFP spokesman said.

“As this matter is currently ongoing, it is not appropriate to comment further.”

Officers from the Special Operations Group and Operational Response Unit joined federal officers during the operation.

While officers stayed at the front entrance to the Startup Cloud building for much of the day, a dozen others earlier congregated at the rear on Union St, near the City View apartments.

Perplexed shoppers lined the streets to watch as officers went door-to-door between Moorabool and Yarra streets and spent time inside businesses including the TAB, which is beneath Startup Cloud.

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Darren Parker, owner of nearby Gifts for the Geek, said he initially thought the operation was connected to drug raids in central Geelong last week or another pedestrian blitz.

“I soon realised they were there to do a serious job,” he said.

“It’s brought some life back into Ryrie St though, more foot traffic for sure.

“When I first counted there was about 16 police.”

Provincial Home Living employee Chloe, who asked for her surname to be withheld, said she counted more than 20 offices on the shopping strip.

She said it was unusual to see a police raid in central Geelong at that time of morning.

“I’ve never before seen them there at that business,” she said.

“At one point there was at least 20 if not more police there.

“It was very strange.”