Police believe he has dismantled a “dial-a-deal” drug supply syndicate that the Alameddine criminal network operated in Sydney.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said 18 people had been arrested this morning and 29 search warrants had been carried out where drugs, cash and jewelery were confiscated.
“I’m sure we cut off the head of the snake,” he said.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the Erebus task force had arrested 18 people. (9 News)
“It is alleged that this criminal network operated and controlled major syndications of illicit drugs from imports to street supplies.
“The recent gang violence in south-west Sydney stems directly from the battle to control drug markets and profits.
“None of these arrests had any obvious form of employment, but it showed significant wealth and assets.”
The 18 detainees are expected to be charged later today.
The Erebus task force is conducting search warrants and arrests in south-west Sydney. (9 News)
Deputy Commissioner Mick Fitzgerald said a covert police operation on the Alameddine crime family revealed that the union was using 36 phones to carry out the “dial-a-deal” drug supply in Sydney.
Fitzgerald added that police found the phones were generating $ 250,000 a week.
He also said a phone had 700 customers.
“The structure of the union was a mafia style,” he said.
Strikeforce Raptor agents are conducting an operation to remove the drug supply network. (9 News)
“I can say that we have already targeted the top level of the Alameddine and Hamze network and today we have broken down their drug distribution network.
“These phones have been attributed to a series of murders that have taken place in the last two years.
“These phones have been in the possession of the Alameddine criminal network for years and a number of other criminal networks have tried to take these phones.”
Deputy Commissioner Mick Fitzgerald said Erebus has dismantled the Alameddine criminal network. (9 News)
Fitzgerald said the group had been supplying a “wide variety of drugs” from cocaine, cannabis, prescription drugs and MDMA.
Fitzgerald added that there is a connection between the criminal Alamadine family and the well-known biker gang the Comancheros.
“The Comanchero Motorcycle Group is Australia’s largest criminal organization and supplies drugs to the Alameddine criminal network,” he said.
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said there was no room for criminal activity or violence in the state.
“If you are involved in this criminal activity, NSW police will track you down and lock you up,” he said.
Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said there was no room for organized crime in the state. (9 News)
Deputy Prime Minister Paul Toole said the state’s criminal networks have been a form of “suburban terrorism.”
“Today’s arrests, these people are under arrest and can expect to be in the prison cell for a long time, they will be very alone and looking at a blank wall of the prison,” he said.
“These individuals are just a bitch.”