Fears of all-out gang warfare in Melbourne have been raised after the grave of the sister of a notorious crime boss was violated over the weekend.
Vandals on Sunday broke into a mausoleum at Preston General Cemetery in Melbourne‘s north and smashed open a coffin belonging to Meshlin Marrogi, the sister of a feared underworld boss, George Marrogi.
Ms Marrogi, who had also earned a reputation in the city’s underworld, died at just 30 years of age in 2021 after being struck down with Covid.
The ‘sick’ perpetrators destroyed items inside before dragging her coffin a short distance and cracking it open.
The vandalism comes as tensions continue to rise between Middle Eastern organised crime gangs with a series of firebombings and torchings unfolding in Melbourne throughout the year.
Meshlin Marrogi’s final resting place at Preston General Cemetery in Melbourne’s north was desecrated on Sunday
Broken glass under a window at the mausoleum (pictured)
Police are now investigating whether the attack at the cemetery was a gangland message to her notorious brother George Marrogi who is currently in prison for murder.
Devastated mourners flocked to the cemetery on Monday, The Herald Sun reported.
Among them was Ms Marrogi’s mum, Madlin Enwiya, who was seen embracing another woman as she broke down in tears behind the cordoned-off area of the mausoleum.
The distressed mother said she regularly visits her daughter’s grave – sometimes more than once a day.
Another family member labelled the vandalism as ‘sick’ and urged police to find the perpetrators as a Victoria Police public order response team vehicle stationed at the cemetery during the day.
Meshlin has been credited for playing a key role in the rise of her brother’s underworld empire.
Police claim her personality and talent for business led to her brother’s empire diversifying into a wide array of business interests.
NCF initially started as a fundraiser for children in the family’s Syrian village of origin, however investigators claim she created most of the network of businesses that were used to launder NCF profits.
George Marrogi was sentenced to 32 years in jail for the 2016 brutal public execution of rival drug dealer Kadir Ors at Campbellfield.
The underworld kingpin has allegedly imported more than $1billion worth of drugs while behind bars.
The ‘sick’ perpetrators destroyed items inside before dragging Ms Marrogi’s coffin a short distance and cracking it open (pictured: Preston General Cemetery)
Police are investigating whether the desecration of her grave was an intentional strike at her brother Geroge Marrogi (pictured) – a notorious crime gang boss who is currently serving a 32-year jail term for murder
Conflict has escalated in recent months between Middle Eastern organised crime gangs.
A series of firebombings, arsons and torchings have been carried out across Melbourne with police hoping to stop the non-fatal property attacks before tensions escalate further.
A wave of arson attacks had been carried out on tobacco stores in the period before the spate of torchings.
At least 11 incidents involving firebombing attacks are believed to be related to the ongoing gang war.
A forensic team has examined the mausoleum at Preston General Cemetary and police are looking for CCTV footage in and around the cemetery.
The area where the window was smashed has no CCTV cameras and was the closest route to Ms Marrogi’s grave.