Melbourne underworld menace exposed in secret files

Intelligence reports reveal the exploits of a crime figure who claimed to be “the wildest man on Melbourne’s streets”.

Feared strongman George Marrogi (centre).

This is George Marrogi — aka “Cross’’— one of Melbourne’s most dangerous men.

The feared strongman, 32, ran riot across Melbourne’s north linking Middle Eastern crime networks and bikie gangs as he graduated from street thug to prolific triggerman.

Intelligence reports obtained by the Saturday Herald Sun reveal he was a menacing force as he marked his territory, making a grab for power and wealth.

The files reveal police attempts to break unsolved murders, gun crime and bitter rivalries in Melbourne’s north.

Victoria Police’s Operation Skyward, which was launched in 2016, used prison intelligence and informers to unravel the shooting murder of Kadir Ors and other crimes.

It can now be revealed Marrogi, who has been a key gunman involved in drug trafficking while also a member of the Comanchero outlaw bikie gang, has been convicted this week of the Ors murder after two failed trials.

The crime scene in Campbellfield where Kadir Ors was executed.

Marrogi has long been an influential crime figure who has spent his adult life in and out of prison.

But a burst of crime between April and September, 2016, ended in the brazen, premeditated, public shooting of Ors at a bus stop outside Campbellfield Plaza shopping centre on September 26, 2016.

Marrogi was then involved in a dangerous car chase as he made his getaway from Ors’ associates in pursuit of him, who he also fired upon.

He was arrested by police the next day, ending what may have been several days of shootings.

Such is Marrogi’s fear factor, sources have described him as “one of the most dangerous people inside and outside jail’’.

“He is responsible for more shootings and moving more drugs than you might think.’’

The secretive Skyward operation developed profiles on a series of incidents Marrogi was suspected over.

The files also show the fluid nature of gang warfare.

Marrogi’s record reveals his parole periods have been short lived, wasting little time returning to crime.

His last stint on the street resulted in Marrogi laying claim to being the wildest man on Melbourne’s streets.

As gun crime in the north skyrocketed in 2015-2016, Marrogi became a high-priority target for police over murders, non-fatal shootings and drug crime.

The police intelligence indicated Marrogi and Ors had fallen out over a half a kilo of an illicit drug which resulted in an “altercation’’.

Investigators would be told Ors first took out a contract to have Marrogi “knocked’’, and was putting up $150,000 for the hit.

But after known hit man Nabil Maghnie allegedly accepted the kill contract, the plot was leaked to Marrogi.

Hit man Nabil Maghnie. Picture: Ian Currie

The intelligence suggests Marrogi turned the tables and set up Ors for the kill.

People in Marrogi’s sphere, however, have rejected this scenario.

What is clear though, is that in the days leading up to Ors death in 2016, the shootings mounted.

On September 22, four days before Ors was killed, Maghnie was sitting in a blue car in an unknown location when he was shot in the driver’s seat.

Marrogi is suspected of almost killing the gangland heavy by shooting him through the windscreen, before Maghnie, although shot in the head and chest, fired back.

Maghnie then drove himself to the Northern Hospital where doctors were able to patch him up.

Maghnie, who had 212 charges in his criminal history, finally came unstuck last year in January when he was shot dead in Epping in a yet to be solved killing.

An intelligence system called Centurion listed Marrogi and Maghnie as enemies since 2013 but others believe they were ‘’best mates’’.

The attempt on Maghnie’s life was followed up by two drive-by shootings targeting a property in Meadow Heights in September, 2016.

Both were linked to Marrogi.

Police believe the firebrand was incensed by an associate calling him a “goose’’ in front of his brother, Jesse.

It has been claimed he responded by spraying the man’s house with bullets on September 24.

But the victim who lived at the house sent Marrogi a text, demanding $50,000 to keep the CCTV from falling into the hands of police.

The next morning, September 25, it’s alleged Marrogi returned and instead of shooting at the house, was aiming at the homeowner.

The following day, Ors was murdered by Marrogi.

But it didn’t end there.

In early October 2016 one of the men who chased Marrogi from the Ors murder scene, Maytham Hamad, walked into the Broadmeadows Police Station with his lawyer.

Hamad had been asked to make a statement about the Ors’ murder, and politely refused.

But although Hamad made a no comment interview, a Detective would soon receive a screenshot of a text sent to Maytham Hamad’s mobile phone.

It read:``If you open your mouth to the cops or to anyone else we will kill Safa.’’

Safa is his sister-in-law.

An investigation was launched to find those behind the threat, but it is believed no culprit was charged.

Police suspected Marrogi had someone send the message.

He also remains a figure of interest in multiple other non-fatal shootings, including a triple shooting in West Meadows against the notorious Kheir crime family, and a double shooting at Attwood in August 2016 where two Comanchero bikies were wounded.

An intercepted prison call even suggested the underworld blame him for an unsolved 2015 ambush killing.