Abandoned yacht a symbol of George Marrogi’s decaying crime empire

It once sailed the waters of the Whitsundays but now, docked at a chilly Melbourne pier, the 28 metre yacht Bahama is the emblem of a crime empire’s decay.

The Bahama was a splashy buy for a crime syndicate with more money than they knew what to do with. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Down on the Yarra River at Docklands sits one of the most ostentatious purchases made by any Victorian criminal syndicate.

The $800,000 super yacht named Bahama hasn’t seen a lot of action since being purchased by the Notorious Crime Family a few years ago.

That was at a time when they appeared to believe they were above the law, buying up big to build a diverse asset base.

Leader George Marrogi – detained at Barwon Prison – certainly never got to ship off but his brother Jesse did.

Word has it that a wild party Jesse held on board the vessel with mates left behind a $150,000 damage bill.

Nowadays the 28-metre luxury vessel, which once sailed the crystal waters of the Whitsundays, is a lonely sight on the CBD’s chilly western end.

In the aftermath of Operation Steelers assets grab on NCF, there are other less visible signs of the empire’s decay than the idle yacht.

Suspicion and friction have emerged from the ashes of the NCF empire.

Police may have seized $44m in assets from the syndicate but the Herald Sun has been told there are those who believe money is missing.

Sources say bickering has broken out with questions being asked about where the money is.

NCF’s business affairs were a complex web of assets, investments and shelf companies which would be hard work to a trained financial eye.

One of the identities at the centre of these financial affairs, Samir Chaarini, is no longer in Australia.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr Chaarini, who is in the Middle-East and says he is too ill to return.

Investigators believe the 59-year-old from Preston was a key player in the money-laundering arm of the business.

For what it’s worth, police believe there’s nothing left to fight over.

“Personally, I don’t think there is any. We believe … we’ve covered off on all that,” detective Sgt Nathan Toey said.

The remnants of NCF did have something of a win this week when George’s mother. Madlin Enwiya, had all charges dropped over accusations of a $1.5m money-laundering scheme.

Ms Enwiya, 56, was facing six charges, including three counts of intending to conceal the proceeds of crime.

That included alleged attempts to conceal $1.4m in May 2021, $32,991 between June and November and $31,434 from November to March in 2022.

$10 Million in cash seized by police form one of the NCF properties.

The Bahama cuts a lonely figure at a Fisherman’s bend pier.

Further charges included dishonestly obtaining a home loan for a $1.4m Mickleham property, and making and using a false document.

But in a shock move by Crown prosecutors, all charges were thrown out.

Prosecutor Matthew Fisher appeared in the County Court on Tuesday to “announce the discontinuance of this matter”.

No explanation was provided as to why the charges were dropped.

Ms Enwiya did not appear for the short administrative hearing, and did not send a lawyer on her behalf.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill of Victoria Police said the joint investigation had changed the landscape of Victorian organised crime.

“This was a syndicate that had brought immense harm to the community … through their violent criminality and drug trafficking,” Mr Hill said.

“These results are testament to not only the most recent investigation but the work of many units across Victoria Police over many years.”

Mr Hill said one of the most crucial elements of its success was the collaboration of Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police.

“These results highlight the importance of not only holding these criminals to account but also working to remove every shred of benefit they have derived from their offending,” he said.