Dulwich Hill Real Estate Agent Arrested In Shooting Investigation

An Inner West real estate agent has been arrested alongside several alleged Comanchero bikies on Thursday morning as part of an investigation into a shooting at a Marrickville barber shop last year.

Police allege the men are part of a criminal syndicate involved in kidnapping conspiracies and large-scale drug trafficking. The syndicate was discovered as part of the investigation into the daylight shooting of two men at Marrickville in July last year. Two men aged 20 and 33 were shot in the chest and buttocks respectively.

Two burnt out cars were found in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill shortly after the shooting, and are believed to be linked.

Police are also investigating links between the Inner West shooting and the allgeed murder of bikie associate Marvin Oraiha in Elizabeth Hills last year.

LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill director Yianni Karakikes, 31, was one of six men simultaneously arrested by Strike Force Orsino detectives as they carried out search warrants throughout the Inner West, southwest, and one on the Gold Coast yesterday.

He was arrested at his Dulwich Hill home at 6am before being taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with supplying commercial quantities of a prohibited drug, organising a drug premises, and participating in a criminal group. He is not accused of any involvement in the Marrickville shootings.

Karakikes was refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.

Five other arrests made

During the 12 raids yesterday morning, police seized over a million dollars worth of watches, luxury jewellery, and vehicles, as well as more than $25,000 in cash, $12,000 worth of prohibited drugs, and Comanchero paraphernalia, including a vest with the gang’s logo emblazoned across it.

Five other men were arrested and charged yesterday, including alleged Comanchero associate George Lergou and alleged former Comanchero member Alan Marshalk.

Lergou was arrested at Burwood police station yesterday afternoon and charged with two counts of shooting with intent to murder, two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, and conspiracy to take or detain a person with intent to obtain advantage, alongside various other charges.

Police are alleging the Lergou was part of the group who planned and carried out the Marrickville shooting but was not the gunman. He was refused bail to appear in Burwood Local Court today.

Investigations are ongoing.