Investigators lead a man from a house they raided in western suburban St Albans this morning. Image digitally altered Credit:Jason South

Today's raids are part of a long-term police investigation codenamed Entity.



Many of the properties raided today were used as hydroponic "farms’’.



Police have seized more than 7200 cannabis plants.

As part of the investigation police have previously raided 50 properties in Victoria and New Zealand, seizing more than $20 million in assets.



The investigation involves Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, customs, tax and immigration officials.



Investigators say the main targets are members of the Vietnamese community.



Police say some of the funds reaped from the marijuana crops have been used to buy heroin in Vietnam, which has been imported into Australia.



Detective Superintendent Gerry Ryan said early reports were the operation was going well.



Police have long maintained there is a direct link between Vietnamese syndicates trafficking in both cannabis and heroin.



Police have identified seven major heroin syndicates, which have recruited more than 100 Melbourne-based couriers.

Police were ready to raid the houses two weeks ago, however the operation had to be delayed because of US Secretary of State Hillary Ms Clinton's visit.

Drug Taskforce investigators say the syndicates target members of the Vietnamese community with gambling debts who are susceptible to pressure from loan sharks.



Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade figures show 25 Australian nationals are in Vietnamese jails on drug charges.



Since 2003, seven Australians sentenced to death in Vietnam have had their penalty commuted after pleas for clemency from the Australian Government.



A police taskforce of drug taskforce detectives, Customs and Border Protection officers, the Australian Crime Commission and Australian Federal Police has been set up to investigate the syndicates.



Operation Ripsaw has resulted in the arrest of more than 30 suspects in Australia and Vietnam in the past two years.



In August police seized commercial and residential properties valued at $20 million they allege had been purchased through laundered funds made by the syndicates through heroin trafficking.



More than 20 suspects have been arrested and $3 million in cash seized during the raids in Fitzroy, Brunswick, St Albans, Maribyrnong, Footscray, Sunshine and Collingwood.



Detectives say heroin couriers fly into Melbourne from Vietnam every week and some have made several trips.