PHOTO: LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill director Yianni Karakikes. THE GREEK HERALD
Real Estate Agent Arrested in Connection with Alleged Criminal Syndicate in Sydney’s Inner West
A prominent Inner West real estate agent has been apprehended alongside several alleged Comanchero bikies as part of an expansive police investigation into a Marrickville shooting incident last year. The arrests come amid broader probes into organized criminal activity, including drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracies.
Background of the Marrickville Shooting
The investigation originated after a shocking daylight shooting in Marrickville in July 2022, where two men, aged 20 and 33, were targeted. Both sustained serious gunshot wounds to the chest and buttocks. Police linked the incident to organized crime, with two burnt-out cars discovered shortly afterward in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill believed to be tied to the attack.
Further inquiries revealed possible connections between this shooting and the alleged murder of bikie associate Marvin Oraiha in Elizabeth Hills later the same year.
Real Estate Agent’s Arrest
Among those arrested is Yianni Karakikes, 31, a director at LJ Hooker Dulwich Hill. Karakikes was taken into custody at his home in Dulwich Hill during the early hours of Thursday morning. He faces charges including:
- Supplying commercial quantities of prohibited drugs,
- Organizing a drug premises, and
- Participating in a criminal group.
While Karakikes has not been implicated in the Marrickville shootings, his alleged involvement with the criminal syndicate led to his arrest. He was denied bail and is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court.
Police Raids Yield Significant Finds
The coordinated raids conducted by Strike Force Orsino resulted in the seizure of:
- Over $1 million worth of luxury watches, jewelry, and vehicles,
- More than $25,000 in cash,
- $12,000 worth of prohibited substances, and
- Comanchero-branded items, including gang insignias and vests.
Additional Arrests and Charges
Alongside Karakikes, five other men were arrested, including George Lergou and Alan Marshalk, both alleged associates of the Comanchero gang.
George Lergou, facing numerous charges, including:
- Two counts of shooting with intent to murder,
- Supplying large commercial quantities of drugs, and
- Conspiring to detain a person with intent to gain advantage.
Police allege Lergou participated in the planning and execution of the Marrickville shooting but was not the shooter.
The Ongoing Fight Against Organized Crime
This high-profile operation highlights the ongoing efforts of Australian law enforcement to dismantle criminal syndicates linked to drug trafficking and violent crime. The seized assets and arrests are significant blows to the organized crime network operating across Sydney’s Inner West and beyond.
Authorities continue to investigate further connections, aiming to prosecute all those involved in these violent and illicit activities.