Talking points
- Victorian and federal police believed a murder was planned on Saturday or Sunday of the Anzac Day long weekend.
- Two alleged conspirators have been interviewed about the plot. But neither has been charged.
- The plot was thwarted as part of Operation Fuji, which has this week laid charges against George Marrogi, the 33-year-old underworld figure accused of directing a drug syndicate from inside Barwon Prison.
Police say they thwarted a murder planned for the weekend linked to the Melbourne-based organised crime group they allege ran a drug syndicate from inside Barwon Prison, and have now charged dozens of people connected to that gang.
Australian Federal Police charged underworld figure George Marrogi, 33, on Monday with directing criminal operations for a drug network while behind bars, saying he made daily calls to associates, including Melbourne woman Antonietta Mannella.
George Marrogi.Credit:Facebook
On Wednesday, Victoria Police charged 30 people as part of Operation Fuji, which began in October 2020. Acting Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill said the syndicate had access to military-style weapons, illicit drugs and unexplained wealth.
He said the alleged murder plot was disrupted by state and federal police after receiving credible information that members of the syndicate intended to kill someone this weekend.
“In recent weeks Victoria Police received very, very credible information that members of the syndicate, including people currently in custody in our prison system, were actively planning to commit two murders. Certain proactive measures were taken by Victoria Police to disrupt this plan,” he said.
Hill said Operation Fuji had interviewed two people in relation to the plot, but neither had yet been charged.
“Last Friday, the intelligence suggested that the murders were imminent, in fact, they were to be carried out by Sunday evening. Hence, our operation and the joint operation with the AFP, Operation Fuji, went into resolution on Saturday morning.”
“Two people were arrested and interviewed in relation to conspiracy to murder.”
Hill said criminal syndicates were in constant competition over drug distribution sites, which sometimes ended in people being killed.
“They’re competing for turf. There’s disputes and some of those disputes [have] fatal consequences,” he said.
Police did not directly connect Marrogi to the planned killings. On Tuesday police alleged the Marrogi syndicate was connected with $55 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin that officers seized in February.
In a wave of raids in Mickleham, Taylors Hill, Greenvale and Essendon on Saturday, federal police also seized a black and gold Night Rod special custom Harley-Davidson motorbike, a white Mercedes G-Wagon, a black and green Kawasaki, a jet-ski, several mobiles phones, computers, storage devices, jewellery and watches.
Federal police allege Mannella was carrying out Marrogi’s orders. She has been charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, including 56 kilograms of methamphetamine and 13 kilograms of heroin.
He faces a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment for allegedly directing the activities of a criminal organisation. He was also charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, which police said included 56 kilograms of methamphetamine and 13 kilograms of heroin, which carries a potential sentence of life imprisonment.
On Tuesday morning, he faced Geelong Magistrates’ Court briefly for a separate matter after being charged with two counts of assaulting of an emergency worker on duty. This matter was adjourned until June 7.
Police regard Marrogi as a key figure in a Melbourne northern suburbs gang known as NCF, which is an abbreviation of Notorious Crime Family.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the investigation originated from overseas seizures police had linked to the syndicate in Melbourne.
“These outcomes should serve as a warning to criminals if you’re facilitating drug importation into Victoria. Whether you’re doing it from a local jail cell or from offshore, we will identify you and we will stop you,” Barrett said.
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