A major drug and gun trafficking syndicate was run through a Melbourne panel beaters and a home, police allege.
Members of the gang inadvertently sold thousands of dollars worth of the drug ice and firearms to undercover police, a court has heard.
Police on Tuesday raided dozens of homes and arrested 27 people, including alleged ringleaders Fadi Haddara, 36, and Dung Pham, 49.
Detective Senior Constable Michael Hammet said the pair both sold drugs on a daily basis, and had also trafficked guns.
He told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Haddara set up an elaborate office at his panel beating business in Williamstown, while Pham operated from his Sunshine North home.
He said the two men would discuss car parts as code for drugs, and would talk about paintings and TVs when they meant guns.
Both men sold ice to undercover police during a sting, Det Sen Const Hammet said.
Fadi Haddara, of Altona North, is facing 17 charges including trafficking a commercial quantity of methylampthetamine.
His cousin Ziad Haddara, 39, of Truganina, remains in custody on five charges, also including drug trafficking.
Det Sen Const Hammet said Ziad and Fadi Haddara had been operating together but had a falling out and dealt drugs separately.
The court was told Ziad Haddara has legally changed his name to Antonio Wilson and no longer associated with his cousin.
Police allege Khaled Kaddour, 39, was Fadi Haddara's righthand man and sold drugs to undercover police a number of times.
Kaddour was denied bail on Wednesday.
More than 35,000 tobacco plants and an assault weapon were seized in the raids, which police said disrupted the workings of the Middle Eastern gang linked to the Haddara family and its associates.
Pham briefly faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday on drug and weapons trafficking charges.
He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody until July.
