A man charged over the execution-style murder of former Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu in Sydney's west allegedly used e-scooters to cover his tracks.
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The 40-year-old gangster was shot multiple times in the car park of his Rhodes apartment building on June 27 and later died in hospital.
Strike force detectives raided a property at Blair Athol in Sydney's southwest around dawn on Wednesday, arresting 25-year-old Mohammed Hosni Khaled who was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and charged with murder.
Police will allege Khaled acted alongside others to plan, co-ordinate and carry out the murder which involved burning out several stolen cars to cover their tracks, before fleeing on e-scooters.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty says police will track down others they believe were involved.
"This is the first arrest but it's an important breakthrough and it's an important arrest," he told reporters.
Nazlioglu's partner was in the car beside him when he was shot multiple times in a brazen attack during the early evening when other members of the public may have also been present.
"It's apparent that those responsible had complete disregard for the safety of, not only her, but others that may have been in the nearby vicinity," Det Supt Doherty said.
Khaled did not appear when the matter came before Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Defence solicitor Harry Gribilas did not apply for bail or enter a plea for his client.
A brief of evidence will be served and the matter will next come before Burwood Local Court on June 28.
Homicide detectives investigating the murder established Strike Force Claypinch, which subsequently formed part of inquiries by Taskforce Erebus into several fatal shootings and criminal activities by Sydney crime gangs.
Two more homes were searched in Mt Pritchard and Kemps Creek with detectives seizing cannabis, cash, electronic devices, and other items relevant to the investigation.
Further search warrants were executed on Wednesday afternoon.
In 2020 a jury found Nazlioglu not guilty of murdering Comanchero boss Mick Hawi, who was gunned down at Fitness First in Rockdale in 2018.
Nazlioglu was accused of being the balaclava-clad gunman, while Jamal Eljaidi was said to be his getaway driver but was also acquitted.
The Crown alleged Nazlioglu was motivated to kill Hawi after the former close friends fell out, with the relationship souring during a fishing trip to the Central Coast in the summer of 2016/17.
Australian Associated Press
