Alameddine crime network
The Alameddine crime network is an Australian organized crime group allegedly led by Rafat Alameddine and his family.[1] Since 2016, they have been engaged in an extended feud with the Hamzy family of the competing Brothers for Life organization, involving at least 12 fatal shootings.[2][3]
History[edit]
In connection with the 2015 Parramatta shooting, Rafat's brother Talal Alameddine pleaded guilty to "possession of the revolver connected with the preparation for a terrorist act, and being reckless as to that connection." and also to supplying the revolver to Alou, and "twice breaching a firearm prohibition order previously placed on him". In May 2018 Alameddine was sentenced by judge Peter Johnson in the NSW Supreme Court to 17 years, 8 months with a minimum of 13½ years.[4]
In May 2022, New South Wales police arrested 18 alleged members of the network, who were said to be behind a "large-scale drug supply operation".[5]
In January 2023, Masood Zakaria, the alleged "number two" in the organisation and the "most wanted man in NSW", was arrested in Bodrum, Turkey on chargers of conspiring to murder, directing a criminal group and drug supply.[6] He was extradited to Australia in December 2023.[7]
In December 2023, an associate of the Alameddines was arrested by police and charged with two counts of destroying or damaging property by fire after allegedly twice firebombing the house of Jordan Shanks, who had revealed links between the Coronation Property Group, former deputy premier John Barilaro, and the Alameddine network.[8] The NSW police stated that there was a "strong possibility" the attack was retaliation for Shanks' video alleging links between the Alameddine network and the Coronation Property Group.[8][9]
References[edit]
- ^ https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/rafat-alameddine-boss-of-crime-network-in-war-with-hamzys-police-allege/news-story/242b8eb9c4b49f0506efe2e6631a3fab
- ^ "Everything you need to know about Sydney's gangland war". ABC News. 20 October 2021.
- ^ https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/sydney-gangland-war-inside-bloody-alameddine-and-hamzy-feud/news-story/fdf2e52406788cea696d536c864e1710
- ^ Thompson, Angus (18 May 2018). "Man who supplied the gun that killed Curtis Cheng jailed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "'We've cut the head off the snake': Sydney crime network dismantled after raids across city". ABC News. 24 May 2022.
- ^ "Sydney gangland figure wanted over alleged murder plot arrested in Türkiye after being on the run for a year". ABC News. 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Alleged Alameddine crime figure Masood Zakaria lands in Sydney". 5 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Alameddine crime network associate charged over firebombing of Friendlyjordies's Bondi home". ABC News. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ McClymont, Kate (2022-09-02). "The Rapper and his mates: authorities to probe links to crime figures". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-12-22.