Police have arrested a prominent Sydney real estate agent following investigations into a criminal syndicate accused of kidnapping and drug trafficking conspiracies.
LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill director Yianni Karakikes, 31, was arrested in a series of dramatic police raids in Sydney and Queensland on Thursday.
Strike Force Orsino detectives are investigating the shooting of two men at a hair salon in July last year in Marrickville, in Sydney’s inner west, where Premier Anthony Albanese grew up and has a home.
Strike force detectives say they have identified a criminal syndicate linked to the Comanchero motorcycle gang and involved in commercial drug supply and kidnapping plots.
Karakikes was arrested at his home in Dulwich Hill and later charged with being concerned in the supply of a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group and organising, directing or assisting a drug premises.
He is not charged with any involvement in the shootings related to the investigation.
Karrikes was refused bail to appear at Downing Center Local Court on Friday.
Detectives are also investigating possible links to the Marrickville shooting and the alleged murder of biker associate Marvin Oraiha in Elizabeth Hills in May 2023.
LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill director Yianni Karakikes, 31, was arrested in a series of dramatic police raids in Sydney and Queensland on Thursday.
Strike force detectives executed 12 search warrants across Sydney and Queensland on Thursday.
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 at 6am on Thursday.
During the raids, police located and confiscated luxury watches and jewelry worth $550,000, eight vehicles and a motorcycle with a combined value of $500,000.
Detectives also seized more than $25,000 in cash, $12,000 in prohibited drugs, multiple electronic devices and bicycle paraphernalia.
Also arrested were alleged Comanchero associate George Lergou, 47, and alleged former Comanchero member Alan Marshall, 39.
Lergou was arrested at Burwood Police Station and charged with multiple offences, including two counts of shooting with intent to murder, conspiracy to kidnap 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 handling the proceeds of crime, knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear or physical harm and common assault (DV).
He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Friday.
Police will allege Lergou was not the gunman but part of the joint criminal enterprise involved in the planning and execution of the Marrickville shooting.
Police also located and seized $25,000 in cash, $12,000 in prohibited drugs, multiple electronic devices and bicycle paraphernalia (pictured).
Police located and confiscated luxury watches and jewelry worth $550,000, eight vehicles (one pictured) and a motorcycle with a combined value of $500,000.
A vehicle and a motorcycle are towed after the Thursday morning raids.
Marshall was charged with possession of a prohibited drug, possession or attempted possession of a prescribed restricted substance, failure to comply with a digital evidence access order and two counts of participation in a criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Friday.
Suspected Comanchero Tiago Costa, 45, was charged with conspiracy to kidnap 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 an access to digital evidence order and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.
Neither man was charged in connection with 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.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at 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 continue under the command of Strike Force Orsino and Strike Force Hackenburg.