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Artwork, jewellery, $9m in property seized in federal police raids on Notorious Crime Family

The extent of the wealth generated by George Marrogi’s Notorious Crime Family gang was on display during a police raid which seized a yacht, artworks worth $500,000 and a $9m property portfolio.

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Almost a dozen properties and original paintings by famous Australian artists have been stripped from George Marrogi’s Notorious Crime Family gang in a multimillion-dollar bust.

Federal police seized artwork by Brett Whiteley and uncovered 11 properties across Melbourne worth almost $9m in Mickleham, Malvern East, Essendon and Moonee Ponds as part of their latest investigations into the prison-run crime syndicate.

Among the finds were an investment scheme worth about $450,000, luxury jewellery including Rolex watches and pieces from Cartier worth more than $75,000.

The recent sting targeting the NCF gang comes after the Herald Sun revealed in June 2023 that the AFP-led Operation Fuji had seized another $47m from the syndicate.

That haul included the discovery of a yacht worth $800,000 and additional original paintings by other Australian artists such as Ben Quilty, Fred Williams and Adam Cullen.

The artworks are understood to be worth $500,000 in total and the luxury yacht was worth about $800,000.

The yacht, worth $800,000, seized in the raids.
The yacht, worth $800,000, seized in the raids.

It was revealed that the haul also included 60 residential properties, among them 33 parcels of land in the Brookfield Estate development site in Melbourne’s west.

Authorities cracked down on the gang’s activities after their network expanded under Marrogi’s leadership as he served jail time for the 2016 shooting murder of drug dealer Kadir Ors.

From his unit inside Barwon Prison, NCF’s dealings included gaining access to guns, a drug importation ring and making threats to kill.

George Marrogi is serving a long prison sentence.
George Marrogi is serving a long prison sentence.
Ben Quilty’s 2005 Australian Landscape Mazda 121 was one of the artworks seized. Picture: Supplied
Ben Quilty’s 2005 Australian Landscape Mazda 121 was one of the artworks seized. Picture: Supplied

Police believe Marrogi’s late sister, Meshlin, played a key role in laundering profits for the gang.

Investigations also included work by the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT), which discovered the paintings and yacht were likely to have been proceeds of crime.

One of Adam Cullen’s Ned Kelly series was among the pieces seized. Picture: Supplied
One of Adam Cullen’s Ned Kelly series was among the pieces seized. Picture: Supplied

AFP Detective Superintendent Scott Raven said taking illegal gains off criminals was a top priority for authorities.

“Money remains the lifeblood of organised crime and cutting off the flow of ill-gotten finances helps prevent further harm to the community by cutting off revenue and motivation,” he said.

“The CACT’s investigators, forensic accountants and litigation lawyers will ensure people justify how they accumulate their wealth and target any assets that are not linked to lawful sources.

“This prevents the bankrolling of further criminal activity and makes crime less financially lucrative.

“Outcomes such as this one in Victoria are key to disrupting and deterring serious organised crime across the country.”

Marrogi’s assets have been sold, with the proceeds to be distributed by the Attorney-General across crime prevention initiatives or diversion programs across the country.

Marrogi, 35, is serving a 32-year jail term for Ors’ murder, as well as concurrent sentences for drug charges.

The recent blow to NCF’s assets comes just days after Marrogi pleaded guilty to wilful damage for smashing a prison computer during a hearing about his mother being banned from visiting him.

He punched the screen and broke it off its stand because he “disagreed with the reasoning”, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/artwork-jewellery-9m-in-property-seized-in-federal-police-raids-on-notorious-crime-family/news-story/ed0ec2e806ed08cacb480735e45040fe