Lebanese organized crime syndicates generally are active . 'Organised crime is not going anywhere, you can't regulate it, and so you need them to self-regulate. "We ask Allah to give his family, wife and children comfort during this test." A witness told 2GB he heard about 10 bullets fired in the street outside his car workshop on Thursday morning. Several other gang members were seriously injured. Mafiosi within "Al Cossa Kella" don't share any profit through a communal fund. The 12 questions you NEED to ask before moving in with your partner, according to a relationship expert. Our contributors include the great investigators Bob Bottom and Al McCoy, and the wonderfully insightful Sydney artist Michael Fitzjames. A contract gunman and an associate of Osman Houchar, Assaad was believed to have been the trigger man. We are afraid there is some connection between these guys here and the guys in Lebanon, he said during a three-month visit to Sydney earlier this year to exchange information on criminal syndicates with the New South Wales Police Forces Middle Eastern Crime Squad. He didn't know that a notorious group of extended Lebanese-Muslim families, descended from the lawless hill tribes of Northern Lebanon, lived in Telopea Street. Over recent years Strike Force Raptor against bikies and the middle-eastern crime squad has seen criminals riled up and retaliate. Salim, 18, and Toufik, 64, were targeted as they sat inside a ute at Osgood Street around 8.55am. While the heart of their operations tends to remain in city centres, police investigations have shown that they manage operations all around the country. . This episode takes a look at the. He befriended members of the NSW police (selling rissoles in the old NSW Police Academy canteen) as well as underworld figures like Graham Croc Palmer and Lennie McPherson. The execution death of Bilal Hamze has sparked fears of a gangland war in Sydney's western suburbs, where Middle Eastern crime gangs have long run rampant. After being acquitted from a murder charge in 1940, Anderson moved to Sydney and established his rep as a standover man. The very next day, bullets were fired into the home of another Alameddine. Sydney has been shocked by a series of assassinations and drive-by shootings amid a turf war between two organised crime gangs - the Alameddine Family and the Hamzy clan. Lebanese Family Terrorises Neighbourhood Redfern Police Station in Sydney. In 1994 I was stationed at Redfern. Mohammad, better known as 'Butch', arrived at John Ibrahim's clifftop home and attempted to provoke a confrontation over money. the so-called "lebanese mafia" is called that because it was based in brunswick, an area classically populated by lebanese immigrants (although nowadays only yuppies live there) but the criminal organisation is part of the 'Ndrangheta (Honoured Society) and they really draw their traditions from Calabria, Italy. The important thing to remember is to always report any suspicious activity to the authorities, and if a situation seems sketchy, stay away! In that 8-year period, several men from each family were arrested, charged, and convicted for their crimes. In 1999, his son Bassam shot dead a teenager during a night out in Sydney and was himself jailed for 21 years. Prior to his assassination, Mejid Hamzy was more than happy to fly under the radar as he went about his business in the underworld. 'It shouldn't be any surprise that organised crime crews remain staunch and refuse to stand in the witness box and give each other up,' Professor Kennedy said. To the streets, thats where., Australian-Lebanese filmmaker George Basha agrees. Curious about these gangs and Australian families of crime? 'Organised crime is not going anywhere, you can't regulate it, and so you need them to self-regulate. But as demand ballooned, Keep Reading, The Nugan Hand merchant bank operated from 1973 to 1980 and has been selected as a rare example of systematic money laundering about which there is public knowledge. The main activities of Arab gangs in Australia are narcotics and weapons trafficking, extortion, prostitution, car theft and money laundering. ', Mahmoud Hamzy (pictured), a fellow Brothers 4 Life member, was also shot dead in 2013 in an attempt on another cousin, Mohammed 'Little Crazy' Hamzy. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He claimed he was there doing humanitarian work and has never been charged with a criminal offence. Haouchar lost his eye in a drive-by shooting at his family's Merrylands home in 2008. Revealed: The new '23' number plates the DVLA deems offensive and has banned including EU23 OFF and GO23 HEL. The resulting warfare was called the Battle of Blood Alley. Professor Kennedy, who spent years investigating organised crime, is critical of the recent heavy-handed response taken by NSW Police to large criminal enterprises. Osman's brother Bilal (pictured) was caught on recordings vowing to kill Michael and his older brother Sam in 2013, once he got out of prison. Police allege Masood Zakaria, 26, and prominent rapper Ali Younes, 24, are working with the Alameddine crime network, which is involved in ongoing gangland wars in the area. NSW has been the centre of an ongoing task force called Strike Force Taipan, which has made a lot of progress into stopping organised crime funded by international criminals. Police believe up to 5,000 mafia members are operating in Australia, in league with their colleagues in Italy. The recent brawl followed a similar fight last year behind bars between the two most infamous people with Hamzy and Alameddine as a surname. NSW Police had reportedly believed he was involved in the shooting death of Hamad Assaad, who was gunned down in his driveway in 2016. According to Sydney police on. While working as CEO of the Australian International Islamic College in Brisbane last year, he initiated a new program that saw problem students placed in a behavior-management room where they were closely supervised by an Islamic cleric. Sydney Morning Herald warned: Sydney Gang Wars: The Battle Of Blood Alley & The Battle of Kellet Street, Just recently, in July of this year, a fight broke out in broad daylight in a busy intersection outside Westfield Parramatta. You just want more, Basha says. 'They are organised criminal groups targeting each other,' Asst Comm Thurtell said. That family member has since been revealed to be Rafat Alameddine. According to the NSW Police, Lebanese crime families have started to corner the market on drug-dealing, causing them to clash with other gangs in the city. Most of the crime families the squad deals with are "from the same three places in north Lebanon: Tripoli, el-Minieh and Akkar." Sydney's Lebanese community, estimated at 300,000, is the largest in Australia with the majority having arrived at Malcolm Fraser's discretion during the Lebanese civil war. In the aftermath of Hamad Assaad's death, a one-eyed man carried his coffin down the steps of Lakemba Mosque. Sydney was founded by criminals who for years formed a majority of its population. Criminal organizations are mostly based around extended crime families with a large number of associates from their community. According to Sydney police on 7news, they suspect that the conflict was between two rival gangs in Western Sydney. 'What we've seen since back in the day with these families is that they move out for a new life in Australia, and will do anything to avoid going back to where they're from. At 2am that Saturday, the home of Maha Hamze was shot at in a drive-by attack. A possum feared extinct is discovered by an amateur naturalist in Papua New Guinea being cooked on a My weekly horoscope: What will March 4th 2023 bring for MY star sign? lebanese crime families melbourne. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. From the Russian Mafia in Sydney to executives at big-time banks involved in money laundering, here are some of the most infamous Australian crime bosses: If theres one boss to rule them all, its Fred Paddles Anderson. And given the revolving trend of crime in the city, sometimes bosses lie low or act via a proxy, making the head figures hard to pin down. That much was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Rony Ghanem of Lebanons Internal Security Force. Play it now! 2023 TIME USA, LLC. When the Pistol Licensing Act of 1927 was passed, gangs had a much more difficult time accessing guns. While some gangs occasionally partner-up for mutual gain, theyre definitely not chums when it comes to their turf. 'We will be targeting associates and known offenders. Osman's brother Bilal (pictured) was caught on recordings vowing to kill Michael and his older brother Sam in 2013, once he got out of prison. Middle Eastern gangs, on the other hand, have made extortion against nightclubs, ram raids, and car theft more common in the CDB. We tried setting it up once but it didnt work, says Don Weatherburn, director of the New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. They know we will come knocking on their door.'. He long blamed Michael Ibrahim, the younger brother of famed Kings Cross identity John. What we found was that in a matter of weeks they were excelling the other kids in school. Daily Mail Australia is in no way suggesting that John Ibrahim is involved in an underworld war or is part of any crime group. They include some members of the Hamzy crew being banned from entering Mount Druitt, Rooty HIll, Blacktown and Merrylands where the Alammedine gang frequents. This amounts to 0.025%. Most of the gangs in Sydney are often offshoots of bigger, foreign organisations. The shooting death of Mejid Hamzy has sparked fears of a gangland war in Sydney's western suburbs, where Middle Eastern crime gangs have long run rampant. The secret WhatsApp mode that lets you EDIT texts after you've sent them. Her journalism career began in early college at the University of California, Irvine where she . While they may be smaller compared to their city counterparts, theyre also one of the more dangerous groups. Read on to find out more about the most wanted perps throughout Sydneys history. With police continuing their search for Mejid Hamzy's killers, Daily Mail Australia has taken a look at these two Middle Eastern crime crews, and others, who are wreaking havoc across the city. Bilal had been serving time on a murder charge which was later downgraded to him being an accessory. Often different rival criminal families are interlocked in feuds, resulting in a fair amount of violence. Because of Hakims rising power and influence, he became the first prominent Lebanese criminal and, eventually, the unofficial godfather of the Lebanese community. Your local builder, cashier, or your deli guy could all be criminals! The first community of Lebanese in Australia were Maronite Christians, quickly followed by a large Muslim community. Lebanese mafia is a Colloquial term for organized crime groups which origin from Lebanon and Levant. Previously, criminal gangs were ruled by one family or figure, similar to the Russian mafia. Talal Alameddine is the most infamous in his family, despite having numerous criminals among his relatives. Ted Cruz accuses AG Merrick Garland of ignoring threats to Supreme Court justices and crisis pregnancy centers in VERY heated Senate exchange, AG Garland says every prisoner 'deserves dignity' when asked if 'biological males' should be in female jails - as Republicans grill him on the Hunter Biden investigation, fentanyl deaths and rising crime. He long blamed Michael Ibrahim, the younger brother of famed Kings Cross identity John. Their camps appear on the sides of roads or in empty parking lots, then after a few days, lebanese crime families sydney. Historical rivalries between gangs continue to build up, making Middle Eastern crime in Sydney more dangerous than ever before. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. Police investigating the Hamze slaying will doubtless be reminded of the conflict between Lebanese crime gangs linked to the Razzak and Darwiche families that hit the streets of southwest Sydney in the early 2000s. He did a stint in jail in the late-2000s, but was last year cleared on drug trafficking charges. In only four Sydney. Oscar Cainer tells all. Look what happened in Germany in the 1940s., Selda Dagistanli, a lecturer in criminology at the University of Western Sydney, agrees that, When you attach criminal behavior to ethnicity, thats racist, and it makes you question the motivation of the people saying it., New South WalesPolice Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas says the problem in Bankstown and other parts of southwestern Sydney is not as bad as it seems. [6] These criminal organizations are mostly based around extended criminal clans. Powerful members involved in criminal activity tend to come and Keep Reading, Earlierwe met Redfern-based Frank Hakim, the first major Lebanese criminal in Sydney, and younger men such as Louis Bayeh and Danny Karam. A gang boss in Sydneys underworld rarely starts at the top they slowly build their way up from the bottom; starting out networking with other young criminals in juvenile detention centres, then committing small crimes as young adults. 17K subscribers in the AutoNewspaper community. Compared to the Arab population in Australia, a much larger number of Arabs are in Germany and have traditionally settled in large numbers in Lebanese regions such as Tripoli, the Beqaa Valley and Beirut where they have integral part of the country's Sunni community. 'But what you've got to do is get these communities to trust you. These were the families police identified in 2011 as causing most of the trouble in the band, which stretches roughly from Coburg North to Campbellfield, then in an arc around to Altona in the west. Osman was interrogated after returning from the Turkey and Syria border in 2015, as it was a designated no-go zone. Inside Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his career when photo of 'a snog and heavy petting' with aide 'Arrested at the airport? 'Whoever pulled this stunt is a madman for sure. In Germany these clans mostly settled in Berlin, Bremen and Essen where they became involved in narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, prostitution, illegal gambling, car theft, money laundering and armed robbery. While Talal will be off the streets for at least the next decade, his five relatives have continued to develop into a prominent crime entourage in western Sydney. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. With all of the gangs and crime families running around, should you be worried? Sydney crime bosses, on the other hand, tend to look more like seasoned thugs. They include some members of the Hamzy crew being banned from entering Mount Druitt, Rooty HIll, Blacktown and Merrylands where the Alameddine gang frequents. Man had sex with his wife on bollard in protest after it had been erected by neighbour to stop him parking What happens when classic cars sell for too much? Today, Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and all over Australia are notorious for weapons & drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. Hamze is the cousin of Bassam Hamzy, 41, who is serving more than 40 years for a spree of killings and gang-related crimes, and Mejid Hamzy who was shot dead in his Condell Park driveway in October 2020. The Hamzys believed Assaad had been paid by another notorious group to carry out a drive-by shooting on the family's matriarch Maha, that left her wheelchair bound. It is unclear exactly how many people belong to the 10 families thought to "run" various areas of the Neuklln district of Berlin (the arrests made this week also happened in this area), with. A well known Lebanese family who lived not far from the old Redfern Police Academy were terrorising the locals with random assaults, drug dealing, robberies and violent anti-social behaviour. Today, Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and all over Australia are notorious for weapons & drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. McPherson decided to take Hakim under his wing and offered protection to the would-be gangster. 2015 Sydney Crime Museum. They are in continuous rivalry over the country's resources and budgets. Frankfort, KY (40601) Today. All rights reserved. Bilal's angst towards the Ibrahims was echoed by his cousin Mohammad last year when he tried to stand over nightclub boss John Ibrahim. In a separate recent shooting prominent gangster Samer Marcus was left fighting for life in hospital after being gunned down outside his parents home. Sydney Crime Museum is an online history of crime in Sydney, which has often affected the lives of ordinary people and popular culture as well as corrupting the processes of policing, justice and government. By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 09:29 GMT, 16 November 2020 | Updated: 02:47 GMT, 18 June 2021. The angst between the two came to a head in 2013 during the botched shooting on Maha Hamzy, the aunt of Mejid and Bassam. These guys are the cream of the crop when it comes to Australian crime bosses, overseeing and commanding people all across New South Wales. Bilal had been serving time on a murder charge which was later downgraded to him being an accessory. But Sydneys current underworld has fractured into several groups, all competing for control. And despite the fact that Machhour had not visited Bqarsouna in more than 30 years, Ahmad maintains that he kept strong links. Most mob bosses dont last long as they are taken out by rival gangs or police operations. RELATED: Manhunt under way after shooting in Sydney suburb. Ahmad estimates that there are now up to 300 members of the Chaouk family living in Melbourne and Sydney. 'But what you've got to do is get these communities to trust you. Mohammed, again a Brothers 4 Life devotee, was stabbed in prison in late-October where he is serving time for shooting two men in 2013. In analogy with Australia, Arab organized crime also came to Germany following the Lebanese Civil War. They know we will come knocking on their door.'. His name wasOsman Haouchar. . Both gangs had resumes that ran from car theft and rebirthing to protection, standover rackets and drugs. A former associate of Mejid's said his death really could spark an underworld war. Daily Mail Australia is in no way suggesting that John Ibrahim is involved in an underworld war or is part of any crime group. Supporters including Rachad Alameddine (front) leave court after Talal Alameddine was given a 13-year sentence in 2018 for supplying the gun used to kill police accountant Curtis Cheng, Bilal Alameddine (left) could face more than five years in jail when he is sentenced on gun and drug running charges on December 11. So the weapon of choice switched from guns to sharp razors, creating so-called razor gangs. Mohammad, better known as 'Butch',arrived at John's clifftop home and attempted to provoke a confrontation over money. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up. 'If you use the word "mafia" it gives the wrong idea, but it's essentially the same thing in that you have a close knit system,' Professor Kennedy said. After finishing school, Basha became involved in more serious crimes. Restaurateurs in Bankstown pay up to $50,000 a year in protection money or risk having their premises firebombed, while Shia and Sunni Muslims exchange invectives and blows on the streets. The main center of Arab organized crime is Sydney, with a significant community of 120,000, followed by Melbourne. Published: 21:44 EST, 17 June 2021 | Updated: 23:28 EST, 17 June 2021. Three Australian-Lebanese crime families in Sydney the Darwiches, Razzaks, and Fahdas were involved in a series of killings and other violent acts from 2001 to 2009. Once Lebanese kids gets involved in gangs, theyre killed or in prison before they get a chance to grow up., There is no data available on the prevalence of criminality in Sydneys Lebanese community because people who are arrested are not legally required to give information on their ethnicity or heritage. Bassam will not be eligible for parole until at least 2042. Schneider, until his murder, was considered by the NSW Crime Commission to be the most influential drug supplier to the state. Id punch any Aussie kid who even looked at me., (MORE:Circle Sentencing: Alternative Justice in Australia). Why Covid's 'lab leak' theory isn't all that crazy: Fascinating interactive map logs EVERY single PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Yes, Madonna toyboys are fun but not if you value your dignity. Gusty winds this evening. He has since fled to Lebanon but he remains a suspect in a number of murders in Australia, however the countries have no extradition treaty, Osman Haouchar (left) carries the coffin at the funeral for murdered gangster Hamad Assaad. The crime families mostly targeted each other, after Adnan Darwiche and Bilal Razzak (both sons of their families respective patriarchs) got into a brawl at Nemras Cafe in Bankstown on February 25, 2001. There were multiple acts of senseless violence, including weapons theft, shootings, and murders. I've had enough of life': Grandmother, 86, is reduced to tears after killjoy Tory Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers speaks out on his deep depression after chemotherapy which left him having Top equestrian rider, 39, once known as the 'golden girl' of horse eventing, is facing jail after being Former Page 3 model Samantha Fox says it's 'scary' how much Botox and fillers young girls are having with My boss is furious I didn't give my first class seat to her and left her stuck in economy - despite the fact How the 'cha cha' will do wonders for your bowel and cabbage juice is a miracle cure. Today, Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and all over Australia are notorious for weapons & drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. Perish ran a major drug manufacturing and distribution business for over a decade on the east coast, managing to build a fearsome reputation in the underworld while escaping police attention almost completely. Bassam's cousin Mohammed 'Little Crazy' Hamzy (right) is currently serving time in jail for shooting two men in 2012. But below the surface of this lower-middle class success story is a Middle Eastern ghetto terrorized by members of its community. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up. They are known for having control over the Merrylands area in west Sydney, Police believe Mejid Hamzy was responsible for the shooting death of Hamad Assaad, a close associate of Osman Haouchar (left) who is pictured with his wannabe standover man cousin Mohamad 'Butch' Haouchar (right). A source close to the Alameddines said: 'For years there were multiple families in that area, but most of the other ones were too focused on each other in the end.'. 'It shouldn't be any surprise that organised crime crews remain staunch and refuse to stand in the witness box and give each other up,' Professor Kennedy said. Crime Families in Sidney: The Darwiche-Razzak-Fahda Family Conflict In place of those bans, police have reportedly introduced Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs), giving them even greater limits on what they can do and how they can associate. Bilal's angst towards the Ibrahims was echoed by his cousin Mohammad last year when he tried to stand over nightclub boss John Ibrahim. That family member has since been revealed to be Rafat Alameddine. As a high influx of predominately Lebanese people moved in to Sydney they settled in the Bankstown region in Sydney's South West. 104 reviews #5 of 88 Restaurants in Sydney $$ - $$$ Lebanese Mediterranean Middle Eastern. In Sydney, Disaffected Lebanese Kids Caught in Spiraling Gang Violence Facing racism at school and pressure at home, children from Middle Eastern families in Australia are dragged into world. The main center of Lebanese organized crime is Sydney, with a significant community of 120,000, followed by Melbourne. Bassam Hamzy is one of NSW's most notorious prisoners having been convicted of killing, drug and gang offences. He told Daily Mail Australia that despite the hard tactics of police, antagonising these groups is in his opinion not the best way to go about it. Hes known as the true Australian godfather his influence reached all corners of Australia, from Queensland to Victoria and beyond. Days before the 34-year-old was fatally shot in the heart of Sydney, NSW Police had gone to his home and warned him that his life was in danger. Beware the TikTok Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? / lebanese crime families sydney. He was stabbed in prison last week. He (Mejid) was one of the biggest names in Sydney,' they said. The Asian gangs in Sydney were infamous for street-level heroin trade. Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Retired NSW detective turned Western Sydney University lecturer Michael Kennedy has seen generations of organised crime groups in Sydney. As part of their hunt for Mejid's killer, NSW Police are also investigating a brawl between members of the Hamzy crew and associates of another major group, the Alammedines, in the days before he died. A source close to Bassam told Daily Mail Australia he was 'shattered' at news of his brother's death, which came just months after the passing of his father. Talal Alameddine, who delivered the gun used to kill NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng in 2015, took on Bassam Hamzy in an exercise yard at Goulburn's Supermax Prison. Later that year, a second fight ensued. It ended in 2009, with the death of Abdul Darwiche.