Police investigating Rami Iskander murder charge married couple Vincent and Maria Lambroglou

A husband and wife have been arrested by police investigating a high-profile Sydney underworld murder, with police now confident they are gaining the upper hand on the gangland war.

A husband and wife have been arrested by police investigating a high-profile Sydney underworld murder, with police now confident they are gaining the upper hand on the city’s organised crime killings.

Vincent Bill Lambroglou, 41, allegedly organised and prepared the getaway cars used by the gunmen who shot Rami Iskander dead at his Belmore home early on the morning of May 14 this year.

Iskander’s death was the third fatal shooting linked to Sydney’s gang war in as many weeks, with the other two victims including his step-uncle and notorious underworld figure Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad and rival Comanchero bikie Omar Zahed.

Almost five months after Iskander’s death, detectives arrested Lambroglou on Saturday at an Oatley property he operated out of.

They then visited Lambroglou’s Kyle Bay home where, after finding $500,000 in cash, they also arrested his wife Maria.

Rami Iskander who was shot dead. Picture: Facebook

Iskander’s grave at Rookwood cemetery.

NSW Police Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty said despite the fact it is not alleged Vincent Lambroglou pulled the trigger to kill Iskander, he is still viewed as allegedly “enabling” the murder to happen.

“Putting someone before the court is an important breakthrough for us, it shows that police haven’t given up,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.

Vincent Lambroglou is arrested at Oatley on Saturday morning.

“Police will allege the 41-year-old man was responsible for organising the getaway cars. “There were a number of getaway cars used in the murders, both before and after the murder, and there was also another car that police will allege he later disposed of, therefore destroying evidence.

“He’s (allegedly) assisted in enabling a 23-year-old man to be murdered on the streets of Sydney.”

Vincent Lambroglou was charged with accessory after the fact to murder, accessory before the fact to murder, participate criminal group contribute criminal group activity and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime. His wife was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime; and participate in criminal group.

There is no suggestion police allege Maria was involved in the actual murder of Iskander.

He was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and accessory before the fact to murder. Picture: NSW Police

Rami Iskander’s coffin being carried to the burial plot at Rookwood Cemetery in May, 2022.

The quick fire deaths Iskander, Zahed and Ahmad led to the formation of Taskforce Erebus by NSW Police, to coordinate the investigations into the 16 tit-for-tat murders since the city’s gang war exploded in late-2020.

Det Supt Doherty said he was confident that after a number of recent arrests by Taskforce Erebus more were on the way, even issuing a warning to high-profile Sydney crime figures who have fled overseas.

“We’ve already shown over the last few weeks and months that we have been making inroads and getting the upper hand in relation to these organised crime murders,” he said.

Gangster Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad was shot dead on April 27 this year.

Omar Zahed (left) was shot dead in an attack on May 10, which his brother Tarek (right) survived despite being hit 10 times.

“These are always hard cases to crack because of the nature of the people we’re dealing with.

“No one is untouchable, including the organised crime networks that we’re investigating at the moment… it doesn’t matter if they live in Sydney, or if they’ve fled interstate or overseas, we’ll continue to work on them and to get justice for the families.”

Lambroglou made no application for bail at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday and will next face court at Burwood on Wednesday.

His wife was was granted conditional bail and will face Sutherland Local Court on November 1.