Police will be based on intercepted phone calls to prosecute some of the 18 alleged members of the Alameddine criminal network who were arrested yesterday in gang raids in south-west Sydney.
Key points:
- Some of the alleged gang members were denied bail in court
- Police said the group’s alleged drug distribution network had been crushed
- The 18 accused men are between 19 and 39 years old
The defendants, who are between the ages of 19 and 39, are allegedly low- and middle-ranking members of the group and have been charged with various offenses such as supplying drugs and profiting from the proceeds of crime.
Following the arrests, police said the group’s alleged drug distribution network had been crushed and that there was now hope that violent conflicts over the city’s drug markets would end.
Drug operations are said to be the cause of the increase in gang violence in Sydney, which has claimed 13 lives in 18 months.
Defendants include Abraham Zreika and Imad Mahfoud, who were denied bail today at Fairfield Court because of their potential risks to the community.
Trent Jeske, 24, was one of those arrested yesterday. (Supplied by: NSW Police)
Mr. Zreika, 21, is charged with supplying cocaine, handling more than $ 3,000 in proceeds of crime and possessing a balaclava with intent to commit a felony.
His lawyer, Sophie Toomey, admitted that he had been charged with “extremely serious offenses” for working in a “safe house” associated with the Alameddine network that was used to package cocaine for sale.
He said Mr Zreika was said to have spent “a lot of time in the safe house”.
Zreika is also accused of carrying 1 kilo of methamphetamine to someone in Newcastle and possessing a balaclava for use in a planned conflict against members of the rival organized crime network.
Police reports related to the case reveal that Zreika was allegedly caught with the balaclava after officers receive information that a group of men from the Alameddine criminal network will gather at The Promendade in Old Guildford and face a violent confrontation. .
It is assumed that Mr. Zreika is a member of the R4W (Ready for War) subgroup of the Alameddine organized crime network.
Several men arrested yesterday have been denied bail. (Supplied by: NSW Police)
The Crown claimed that he should not be released on bail because he could escape jurisdiction, but his lawyer strongly argued that this was not even possible as he had made very little money from his alleged activities.
“He still lives with his mother on a rent and gives her pocket money every two days,” Ms. Toomey said.
The magistrate said police would rely on telephone interceptions, electronic surveillance, physical surveillance and car movement as part of his case.
Several other Zreikas, including Amir, Mouhammad, Zackaria and Abraham, have also been charged with various offenses of supplying drugs, criminal groups and proceeds of crime.
Imad Mahfoud, 25, was also denied bail despite claims by his lawyer that he was a “low-level runner” from the Alameddines.
The prosecution said his case was strong and would be based on a series of telephone interceptions between Mahfoud and other alleged members of the criminal network between July and October last year.
The magistrate said Mahfoud was earning “thousands and thousands of dollars” by supplying bags of cocaine worth between $ 250 and $ 300.
“Surely he could have spent some money (on the criminal network) but he wasn’t doing it for the good of his heart,” said Magistrate Glenn Walsh.
He said he was not confident the defendant would meet the bail conditions imposed on him and noted his criminal record, which included charges of intimidating a police officer and taking drugs to a place of detention.
“There is a real concern about the commission of more serious crimes,” he said.
Two other members of the network, Jalal El Jajie and Trent Jeske, are charged with even more serious crimes and their lawyers have not applied for bail today.
Jajie Jalal is accused of supplying 2.5 liters of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 251 grams of cocaine. His lawyer says he will deny all charges.
Mr Jeske is accused of supplying methamphetamine and of knowingly or recklessly targeting the criminal group.
Alco is accused of receiving benefits from these criminal activities, that is, through a Rolex watch inlaid with diamonds.
During the 29 search warrants executed by Strike Force Sugarcane, which has led an investigation for almost a year, weapons, drugs, cash and 36 encrypted mobile phones were confiscated.
Detective Chief Inspector Darren Bennett told the ABC today that drug operations were the “root cause” of gang violence that has claimed 13 lives in 18 months.
“We’re not saying it’s over now because it’s impossible to say, but what we’re going to do is work hard with these people until they get the message that the kind of violence is not acceptable,” he said.
Posted 8 hours 8 hours agoWednesday 25 May 2022 at 00:19, updated 17 minutes ago 17 minutes ago Wednesday 25 May 2022 at 08:51