Police reveal new information about what triggered the sudden arrest of Notorious Crime Family gang boss George Marrogi

Explosive details have emerged about how police thwarted two murders that were allegedly being planned by Notorious Crime Family associates.

Two murders were due to be carried out by associates of the Notorious Crime Family before police intervened at the weekend, it’s alleged.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill has revealed explosive new information about what triggered the sudden arrest of NCF gang boss George Marrogi and associates on Saturday.

He said police received intelligence on Friday that two murders were planned to be carried out imminently.

The would-be killers were allegedly given a deadline of Sunday, causing state and federal police to kick into action to thwart potential bloodshed.

Notorious Crime Family founder George Marrogi.

Marrogi’s girlfriend Antonietta Mannella.

Mr Hill alleged: “This was serious and organised crime at its highest level”.

Mr Marrogi, his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella, and two other men living in the suburbs of Melbourne were swiftly arrested on Saturday.

The two unknown men, identified as NCF associates, were interviewed over conspiracy to murder but are yet to face charges.

“Due to the threat to life, we had no choice but to intervene as we did on Saturday morning,” Mr Hill said.

Mr Hill referred to conflicts over turf when asked about the motive behind the alleged contract killings.

“We know criminal syndicates and Middle Eastern Organised Crime Gangs are in constant conflict. They are competing for turf and there are disputes and some can end in fatal consequences,” he said.

Echo taskforce detectives have so far charged 30 people connected to the NCF organised crime syndicate.

Police began investigating the gang in October 2020 over the trafficking of military style weapons, illicit drugs and unexplained wealth, including flashy cars and real estate.

It’s alleged the syndicate was involved in plots to import a total of 456kg of methamphetamine and 13kg of heroin in two separate shipments.

Australian Federal Police Assistant Krissy Barrett said the drugs could have been sold to at least five million people in Victoria and interstate if not intercepted.

Mr Hill described NCF as “one of the most significant and sophisticated criminal networks operating in Victoria”.

“(They have) immense reach and have caused significant harm in the community,” he said.

Mr Hill said it’s likely some NCF-linked figures netted in the phone tap investigation will never taste freedom again.

“I expect this operation will result in some individuals spending the rest of their born days in incarceration,” he said.

“If that’s not the case, they will be released in decades to come as very old, frail human beings.”

Crime boss allegedly planned kill plot while in jail

Crime gang boss George Marrogi is within days likely to be charged with conspiring to murder a close associate as the investigation into his alleged running of a major drug empire from inside jail netted two more arrests.

The Herald Sun also understands his younger brother, Jesse Marrogi, has left the country.

The reason for Jesse’s departure is unknown but came as police charged George Marrogi for masterminding major drug smuggling operations from his maximum-security prison cell.

It’s not clear whether he was joined by his girlfriend, Sabrine Maghnie, the daughter of slain gangster Nabil Maghnie.

George Marrogi, founder of Notorious Crime Family (NCF), has been in prison since his arrest over the 2016 murder of rival Kadir Ors in Campbellfield.

Jesse Marrogi and girlfriend, Sabrine Maghnie, daughter of the late Nabil Maghnie.

The Herald Sun on Tuesday revealed he had been charged for running his drug-trafficking empire from jail as a result of a major police sting. Officers had tapped his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella’s phone while the pair allegedly spoke in code about their smuggling plans, a plot to escape prison and the co-ordination of bashings, kidnappings and other attacks.

The paper also understands Marrogi discussed kill plots from inside Barwon Prison, which involved a hit on a close connection, potentially a family member.

Though it is unclear what prompted discussions over a “retaliation” hit, police were concerned a murder could be imminent.

Ms Mannella, 28, is accused of helping her boyfriend run the alleged drug empire. Both face life imprisonment if convicted over the international ice and heroin importations, which were thwarted in February.

The kill plot intelligence was acted upon swiftly by the AFP and Victoria Police, with heavily armed Special Operations Group members carrying out a series of raids on Saturday.

Two men linked to NCF were arrested by Victoria Police and questioned over the alleged conspiracy.

A typical prison cell in Barwon Prison. Picture: Alison Wynd

They included a 31-year-old North Ringwood man remanded on charges of failing to disclose a pin code under 456AAA of the Crimes Act.

The charge is often laid against suspects who fail to give up information on police orders.

A 27-year-old Mickleham man was also arrested and ­released pending further ­investigations.

A second series of raids took place Tuesday at properties in Point Cook, Greenvale and Gladstone Park. Two men were arrested and a high-end car allegedly used to traffic drugs, luxury designer clothing and bags believed to be the proceeds of crime and cash were seized.

A 32-year-old Point Cook man was expected to be charged with trafficking a big commercial quantity of drugs.

His co-accused, a 43-year-old Gladstone Park man, was due to be charged with possessing a drug of dependence.

Victoria Police is continuing to investigate a “number of other threats” linked to the NCF syndicate both inside and outside prison.

“This weekend’s arrest came after police received information that members of the syndicate, including ­people currently in prison, were actively planning to allegedly kill a number of people,” a police statement on Monday says.

Prison intelligence files seen by the Herald Sun say Marrogi had been identified in 2017 by underworld associates as a “big dealer” involved in major criminal activities, including shootings.

He has been investigated over multiple fatal and non-fatal shootings with numerous associates named in the files.

Marrogi was a suspect in the deadly shooting of Khaled Abouhasna, who was gunned down in Altona Meadows in 2015.

According to the intelligence files, when one of his victims was asked whether the gang boss used drugs, he replied: “He’s mad enough without using any drugs”.

Victoria not on cusp of gangland war: Patton

Victoria’s police boss says he does not believe the state is on the cusp of a gangland war, despite tensions between prominent criminal networks.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the arrests of Notorious Crime Family boss George Marrogi and his girlfriend Antonietta Mannella proved the force was on top of underworld crime.

“I don’t believe we are on the cusp of any significant gangland war or anything like that,” Mr Patton said on 3AW Radio.

“We constantly have these criminal entities who will do anything to make money from drugs, violence, scams.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton. Picture: Ian Currie

“It is a continual battle. There is a lot of money to be made in trafficking drugs.

“It is something we can’t afford to take our eyes off the ball.”

Mr Patton said police would continue to target and disrupt criminal gangs but stopped short of commenting specifically on Marrogi’s alleged activity from prison.

“I don’t want to speak about that individual,” Mr Patton said.

“That (investigation) has been running since October in 2020, it has been a long-running investigation.

“This culminated last Friday, we received intelligence a couple of murders imminent. We went into resolution (and made arrests).

“One of the suspects in this matter is currently in prison. He is being investigated for these offences as well.”

The top cop said it was concerning that criminal syndicates had access to “military-style firearms, large scale drug importation and unexplained wealth”.

“Our crime command is looking at what we can do to address this,” he said.