Police have arrested a high-profile Sydney real estate agent following investigations into a criminal syndicate accused of kidnapping conspiracies and drug trafficking.
LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill director Yianni Karakikes, 31, was arrested in a series of dramatic police raids across Sydney and Queensland on Thursday.
Detectives from Strike Force Orsino are investigating the shooting of two men in a hair salon in July last year in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner-west, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese grew up and has a home.
Strike force detectives say they have identified a criminal syndicate linked to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang and involved in commercial drug supply and kidnapping conspiracies.
Karakikes was arrested at his Dulwich Hill home and later charged with taking part in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group and organising, conducting or assisting a drug premises.
He is not accused of any involvement in the shootings linked to the investigation.
Karrikes was refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
Detectives are also investigating possible links with the Marrickville shooting and the alleged murder of bikie associate Marvin Oraiha in Elizabeth Hills in May, 2023.
Strike force detectives executed 12 search warrants in Mascot, Sans Souci, Hurstville, Dulwich Hill, Rosebery, Peakhurst, Carlton, Lakemba, Sydney and Broadbeach Waters in Queensland starting from 6am on Thursday.
During the raids, police located and seized $550,000 worth of luxury watches and jewellery, eight vehicles and a motorcycle with a combined value of $500,000.
Detecitves also seized over $25,000 in cash, $12,000 worth of prohibited drugs, multiple electronics and bikie paraphernalia.
Alleged Comanchero associate George Lergou, 47, and alleged former Comanchero member Alan Marshall, 39, were also arrested.
Lergou was arrested at Burwood police station and charged with multiple offences, including two counts of shooting with intent to murder, conspiracy to take or detain a person with intent to obtain advantage, and two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
The 47-year-old was charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, stalking or intimidating with the intent to cause fear or physical harm, and common assault (DV).
He was refused bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Friday.
Police will allege Lergou was not the gunman, but a part of the joint criminal enterprise involved in the planning and carrying out the Marrickville shooting.
Marshall was charged with possessing a prohibited drug, possessing or attempting to possess a prescribed restricted substance, failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction, and two counts of participating in a criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Friday.
Alleged Comanchero Tiago Costa, 45, was charged with conspiracy to take or detain a person with intent to obtain advantage, two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction and participating in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.
Neither men were charged in relation to the shootings.
A 28-year-old man was arrested in Lakemba and charged with two counts of dishonestly interfering with or copying a unique identifier and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on December 17.
A 42-year-old man was arrested in Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast and is expected to be extradited to Tweed Heads on Friday where he will be charged with participating in a criminal group.
Investigations under Strike Force Orsino and Strike Force Hackenburg continue.