George Marrogi, Antonietta Mannella slapped with more drug charges while in prison
George Marrogi and his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella have been hit with more massive drug charges as they languish in prison.
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George Marrogi and his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella have been hit with more massive drug charges as they languish in prison.
A four-month Victoria Police operation conducted by the Echo taskforce led to investigators visiting Marrogi and Ms Mannella in prison on Thursday over their alleged involvement in trafficking drugs with a street value of more than $3m.
The alleged Mr and Ms Big were slapped with the charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity of a drug of dependence following raids on two other alleged members of the suspected crime syndicate who were charged earlier this week.
Marrogi and Ms Mannella will face court on May 11.
Police allege they discovered two large barrels containing 356 litres of 1,4-butanediol in January after intercepting a truck travelling along the Western Hwy near Horsham.
Forensic testing of the liquid subsequently identified the illicit drug.
A 73-year-old truck driver from Hayborough, South Australia, who was interviewed by police at the time, was this week arrested and charged with the large drug haul after Victorian detectives travelled to South Australia.
Investigators also charged another South Australian man, aged 49, from Norton Summit in the Adelaide Hills.
Both men were extradited to Victoria on Wednesday and have been remanded until their next court hearing in August.
During raids on their properties items including cash, gemstones, high-end watches, electronic equipment and documents were seized.
A day earlier on May 2, a warrant was also executed at a commercial property at Hindmarsh Island, South Australia, where electronic equipment and documents were seized.
The Echo taskforce arrests form part of a significant investigation into alleged drug trafficking in Victoria and South Australia linked to an organised crime syndicate.
The latest bad news for Marrogi come just weeks after he was sentenced to 30 years jail over the 2016 murder of Kadir Ors, who was executed outside a Campbellfield shopping centre.
Marrogi was also last month charged with the rare offence of directing the activities of a criminal organisation, which carries a 15-year jail term.
It is alleged Marrogi ran his gang, dubbed Notorious Crime Family, by issuing his girlfriend, Ms Mannella, instructions in code from Barwon maximum security prison while pretending to speak to a lawyer.
The 33-year-old founded the gang while on remand, which police believe has international reach.
Marrogi and Ms Mannella have been charged with importing 56kg of methamphetamine and 13kg of heroin into Australia, which carries a life sentence.
Ms Mannella has also been charged over a 400kg methamphetamine drug haul seized in Malaysia.
Homicide detectives are also probing possible links to Marrogi over the fatal shooting of Korey Kesici, 22, in Mickleham on Thursday night.
Within an hour of Mr Kesici’s murder, a cryptic message was posted by a third party on Marrogi’s Instagram account.
It said “Take delight in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.’’
The passage was accompanied with “11:11’’, the calling card of the NCF gang.
Mr Kesici had connections with Melbourne’s underworld, including Middle Eastern organised crime figures, which has fluid allegiances.
Before the shooting, police were investigating Marrogi, Ms Mannella and two other men over whether there was a plot to shoot rivals.
Two men were arrested over the alleged murder plot on April 23, but no charges have been laid.
It is understood Marrogi’s brother, Jesse, has left Australia for an indefinite period.
The latest Echo taskforce breakthrough was aided by South Australia Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
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