lebanese crime families sydney

The one-eyed pallbearer was detained in 2015 after returning from Syria, where he claimed he was doing 'humanitarian work'. By the end of the era, they had effectively taken over whole suburbs in southwest Sydney with criminal enterprises trading in drugs . Lebanese Family Terrorises Neighbourhood Redfern Police Station in Sydney. 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 first community of Lebanese in Australia were Maronite Christians, quickly followed by a large Muslim community. Ibrahim came out and spoke with the heavily-tattooed Haouchar and calmed the situtation, but police eventually arrested and charged the would be intruder. Jihad Alameddine (right) has pleaded guilty to a charges including drug possession, drug driving and possessing equipment for administering drugs. RELATED: MAFS Daniel breaks silence on criminal charge. As NSW Police hunt Hamze's killer, Daily Mail Australia has taken a look at these two Middle Eastern crime crews, and others, who are wreaking havoc across the city. Bilal's disdain for the glitzy rivals was so severe that John has been warned on a number of occasions about threats on his life. Police swoop on Sydney crime families in mass raids, 115 people charged By 9News Staff 9:49pm Jan 30, 2022 Sydney's decade-long gang war is believed to have been smashed by police in just 48 hours, with 115 people charged during a two-day operation targeting alleged members, associates and supporters of organised criminal networks. Bassam will not be eligible for parole until at least 2042. 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. Haouchar lost his eye in a drive-by shooting at his family's Merrylands home in 2008. During the 1990s, Lebanese-Australian gangs took hold of Sydney. But when I was older and more Lebanese kids moved to my area, we formed a gang so we could protect each other and I started bullying back. 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. They and their crew have established a stronghold around Merrylands - an area criminals have fought for control for years. His name wasOsman Haouchar. The attacks were reported as a war between two rival Lebanese crime families, the Darwiches and the Razzaks. Decent, law-abiding Lebanese Australians would cringe at the loathing reaped by Skaf and his vile cohorts for citizens of their shared background. NSW Police had reportedly believed he was involved in the shooting death of Hamad Assaad, who was gunned down in his driveway in 2016. 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). In 1929, it was discovered that gang lord Phil Jeffs was using boracic acid to cut his cocaine, causing major conflict between the two gangs. 'Whoever pulled this stunt is a madman for sure. Hamzy, 44, was gunned down in the driveway of his home at Condell Park at 7.30am on Monday, October 17 by two balaclava-clad gunmen. The Gangland War. ', 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. Lebanese organized crime syndicates generally are active globally . Ahmad estimates that there are now up to 300 members of the Chaouk family living in Melbourne and Sydney. He (Mejid) was one of the biggest names in Sydney,' they said. So the problem we have now in Sydney is a ramification of what has been going on in Lebanon.. 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. 61K views, 233 likes, 5 loves, 107 comments, 41 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7NEWS Sydney: Police trying to head off a gang war in Sydney have seized weapons and drugs from a member of the. Facing racism at school and pressure at home, children from Middle Eastern families in Australia are dragged into world of organized crime and ethnic bloodletting, Lebanese youths are searched by Australian police in Sydney. They were followed by other groups of criminals of Lebanese descent, many of whom, in contrast to their predecessors, preferred to remain in the part of Sydney where Keep Reading, In the 1990s Sydneys heroin centre moved from Kings Cross to the suburb of Cabramatta with its large Vietnamese population. A burnt out car, believed to have been the one used by the two gunmen, was found on a nearby suburban street THE HAMZYS Khaled and Lola Hamzy moved their family to Australia in the 1970s as civil. The street side brawl came a day before a series of shootings at homes linked to both a Hamzy and Alameddine relative. 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!' In the past there was a code among crime gangs in Sydney that bodies in the street were bad for business, says Michael Duffy, the author of Drive By, a new novel about a Lebanese crime family and the efforts of a bigoted, dispirited police force to lock them up. Jihad Alameddine (right) has pleaded guilty to a charges including drug possession, drug driving and possessing equipment for administering drugs. In analogy with Australia, Arab organized crime also came to Germany following the Lebanese Civil War. 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 recent brawl followed a similar fight last year behind bars between the two most infamous people with Hamzy and Alameddine as a surname. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. Members from both gangs consumed copious amounts of alcohol and cocaine before fighting what would later be known as the Battle of Kellett Street. 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. George Freeman was a bookmaker who was involved in organised crime in Sydney during the 70s and 80s. Bilal had been serving time on a murder charge which was later downgraded to him being an accessory. Then click on any blue marker to find out more. The improvement was remarkable Imagine what they would be capable of if they had a better start in life., PHOTOS:Wildfires Scorch Australia As Temperatures Reach Record Highs. Criminal organizations are mostly based around extended crime families with a large number of associates from their community. SYDNEY'S CRIME GANGS WIN DRUG WAR SITTING at the top of the 607 names of organised crime figures plying their evil trade in NSW was a former Hells Angel bikie called Wayne Schneider. Mohammad, better known as 'Butch',arrived at John's clifftop home and attempted to provoke a confrontation over money. 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. And while theyre still a long way off from completely getting gangs off the streets, theyre making a lot of progress. The main activities of Arab gangs in Australia are narcotics and weapons trafficking, extortion, prostitution, car theft and money laundering. '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. Hed also provide these establishments with protection from other violent gangs. All rights reserved. 'They are organised criminal groups targeting each other,' Asst Comm Thurtell said. The 12 questions you NEED to ask before moving in with your partner, according to a relationship expert. Professor Kennedy, who spent years investigating organised crime, is critical of the recent heavy-handed response taken by NSW Police to large criminal enterprises. Lebanese mafia is a Colloquial term for organized crime groups which origin from Lebanon and Levant. Crime families exchange gunfire and trade narcotics with apparent immunity; arrestees in Bankstown are 60 times more likely to use heroin than those in other parts in Australia. Salim, 18, and Toufik, 64, were targeted as they sat inside a ute at Osgood Street around 8.55am. And given the history of government efforts to obtain information on race, Im not even sure its something we should be doing. His crew won't take this lightly. In that 8-year period, several men from each family were arrested, charged, and convicted for their crimes. So the weapon of choice switched from guns to sharp razors, creating so-called razor gangs. He was stabbed in prison last week. On the day before the first of the Skaf rapes, the gang's leader was only a few weeks away from his 19th birthday. He was shot in the stomach and shoulder by an unknown person who police say was lying in wait for Hamze. CCTV footage of the brutal showed the two going head-to-head before Alameddine got the upper hand, leaving Hamzy battered and bruised. One reason is that energetic and ambitious men who have difficulty obtaining legitimate opportunities turn to illegal ones. country of residence flight check in; nathaniel rateliff gallagher way; filming locations for she out of my league. There were 72 drive-by shootings in Sydney in the first half of this year one every 2 days most of which took place in Bankstown, the City of Liverpool further west and in Sydneys inner-west. There were multiple acts of senseless violence, including weapons theft, shootings, and murders. 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. According to Sydney police on. Fred could pick up the phone and get anything done like that [clicks his fingers].. But one things for sure: foreign criminal investment in Sydney has largely replaced domestic gangs. 104 reviews #5 of 88 Restaurants in Sydney $$ - $$$ Lebanese Mediterranean Middle Eastern. 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. Historical rivalries between gangs continue to build up, making Middle Eastern crime in Sydney more dangerous than ever before. All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Osman's brother Bilalfled Australia for Lebanon in 2018, but remains a key person of interest over a spate of murders - however Australia and Lebanon have no extradition treaty. He was stabbed in prison last week. The killings were straight out of a mafia . Bilal's disdain for the glitzy rivals was so severe that John has been warned on a number of occasions about threats on his life. In 2013 he was caught on recordings from behind bars vowing to kill Michael and his older brother Sam once he got out of prison. One of the brawlers was spotted with a large knife in his hand. While Sydney crime figures have been dropping steadily for the past couple of years, there's data (like the Campbelltown crime rate) that tell of a much larger problem facing New South Wales. 'This guy was well connected and loved by heaps of heavies. While Talal's involvement in the murder of Mr Cheng has seen him become the most infamous member of the clan, he is not the only one to have landed himself in strife. Photo / Thinkstock. In recent years 26-year-old Talal's brother Rafat, 28, and cousins Bilal, 21, Jihad, 31, Rachad (sometimes 'Richad'), 28, and Hamdi Alameddine 27, have all faced serious criminal matters in court. That much was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Rony Ghanem of Lebanons Internal Security Force. Manhunt under way after shooting in Sydney suburb. The important thing to remember is to always report any suspicious activity to the authorities, and if a situation seems sketchy, stay away! Bilal Hamze, 34, was gunned down in the CBD on Thursday night after dining at ritzy sushi restaurant Kid Kyoto, The shooting murder of Mejid Hamzy (left), older brother of notorious criminal Bassam (right), has sparked fears of an all-out war between criminal clans fighting for control of Sydney's west, (L to R) Criminals Rachad Alameddine and his brother Jihad pose for a photo with their cousins Hamdi and Rafat. Drugs are manufactured and brought in from the more rural parts on the outskirts of Sydney, often overseen by Western Sydney gangs. Of course, the establishment owners couldnt report Anderson to the police, as it would put their illegal business in jeopardy. A former member of his brother Bassam's gang Brothers 4 Life, Mejid was connected to several underworld killings. To the streets, thats where., Australian-Lebanese filmmaker George Basha agrees. In addition to the mentioned Ibrahim members, the Haouchars have also had a long running feud with some of the Hamzys. Before we can solve it we need to understand it, he says, and Im not sure we do.. After finishing school, Basha became involved in more serious crimes. Another source described the current situation in Sydney as being 'on a knife's edge'. When father and son Salim Hamze and Toufik Hamze were gunned down in broad daylight in western Sydney on Wednesday, they became the third and fourth members of the infamous crime family to be shot in a little over 12 months. 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. They include some members of the Hamzy crew being banned from entering Mount Druitt, Rooty HIll, Blacktown and Merrylands where the Alameddine gang frequents. Do not sell or share my personal information. His cousin Mahmoud, a fellow Brothers 4 Life member, was also shot dead in 2013 as he was caught in the middle of an attempt on another cousin,Mohammed 'Little Crazy' Hamzy. The year did not start well in Sydney's Harris Park. A contract gunman and an associate of Osman Houchar, Assaad was believed to have been the trigger man. RELATED: Manhunt under way after shooting in Sydney suburb. 'But what you've got to do is get these communities to trust you. Similarly, the Alameddine associates are banned from going between Picnic Point in Blaxland, and Villawood and Strathfield. Read on to find out more about the most wanted perps throughout Sydneys history. Sydney A. Charles joined the 4 News Now team as a Breaking News Anchor and Producer in June of 2022. Sydney Terrorised By Lebanese-Muslim Crime Gangs (Miranda Devine's article from the Sydney Morning Herald on 22 December 2005.) There are two significant sources of crime in Sydney: Who Are The Top Sydney Crime Bosses/Families? Most gangs settle in Sydney's rural areas, where police presence isn't as strong as it is in the city. Bassam's cousin Mohammed 'Little Crazy' Hamzy (right) is currently serving time in jail for shooting two men in 2012. Tensions in the city's south-west and western suburbs are at a long-time high. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. According to Sydney police on 7news, they suspect that the conflict was between two rival gangs in Western Sydney. 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? They believed that person was a member of the Haouchar crime gang. And these guys are well armed. 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. This earned him the nicknames Mr Big and Mr Ten Percent. The resulting warfare was called the Battle of Blood Alley. The recent brawl followed a similar fight last year behind bars between the two most infamous people with Hamzy and Alameddine as a surname. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Rising crime in northern Bekaa Valley hurting Hezbollah", "THE WORLD'S LARGEST DRUG FIELD -- (BY DENNIS EISENBERG) (Extension of Remarks - July 27, 1990)", "Schattenseiten der Einwanderergesellschaft - Brutale Familienbande", "Miri-Clan: Eine Familie, tief verstrickt ins Verbrechen - DIE WELT", "Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area of South America", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lebanese_mafia&oldid=1141378811, Organized crime by ethnic or national origin, Articles that may contain original research from January 2015, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Pages using infobox criminal organization with rivals parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 19:36. Criminal organizations however often transcend religious and cultural barriers, with members of the Sunni communities all involved in the same criminal organizations.[3]. Bassam Hamzy is one of NSW's most notorious prisoners having been convicted of killing, drug and gang offences. [1] Due to the vast international Arab diaspora and along with a certain amount of organized criminals active in their respective communities, the Beqaa Valley has become one of the most infamous marijuana and hashish exporting regions in the world. [6] These criminal organizations are mostly based around extended criminal clans. 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. Bilal's angst towards the Ibrahims was echoed by his cousin Mohammad last year when he tried to stand over nightclub boss John Ibrahim. Police believe up to 5,000 mafia members are operating in Australia, in league with their colleagues in Italy. Criminals are coming together from a really diverse range of backgrounds to do bad things together. Nevertheless he acknowledges Middle Eastern organized crime in the city is not going to go away and more research is needed. Today the War on Drugs continues to affect many lives in ways ranging from the trivial to the profound. WhatsApp chat is just for everyday banter (that's 'Why the last-minute delay?' Hes also famous for having spearheaded most of the citys criminal activity, alongside Abe Mr Sin Saffron and George Freeman. 'There's no great mystery that families who come here with nothing will do the hard yards and whatever it takes to get money, and many individuals end up in crime.'. Later that year, a second fight ensued. ingredient in ice cream that causes diarrhea 3, 2022 how old was zacharias janssen when he died on sydney crime families. For about a decade the suburb also became the citys murder centre as very young, first-generation immigrant gangsters went to war. You just want more, Basha says. They include some members of the Hamzy crew being banned from entering Mount Druitt, Rooty HIll, Blacktown and Merrylands where the Alammedine gang frequents. For the past decades the Arab crime families had controlled 78% of Germany's underworld activities. Hes known as the true Australian godfather his influence reached all corners of Australia, from Queensland to Victoria and beyond. Retired NSW detective turned Western Sydney University lecturer Michael Kennedy has seen generations of organised crime groups in Sydney. Policing in the 1960s and 1970s: a memoir. '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. We have already seen with Robert Trimbole an example of how Keep Reading, The mafia is a general term used to describe organised crime gangs of predominantly Italian ancestry around the world. The Calabrian mafia work with other organised crime groups including bikie gangs and . ', Pools of blood and ripped clothing lie on the ground outside the house of a friend where Mejid Hamzy stumbled to after being shot in the front yard of his own home on Monday, October 19, Blood stained shirts and other ripped clothing was taken away in evidence bags by NSW Police, A burnt out car, believed to have been the one used by the two gunmen, was found on a nearby suburban street. Bilal's angst towards the Ibrahims was echoed by his cousin Mohammad last year when he tried to stand over nightclub boss John Ibrahim. Previously, criminal gangs were ruled by one family or figure, similar to the Russian mafia. In the September 2011 trial of Anthony Perish and his Keep Reading, Smith was born in 1944 and was a major criminal, involved particularly in armed robbery, heroin trafficking, and murder. Mafiosi within "Al Cossa Kella" don't share any profit through a communal fund. Another source described the current situation in Sydney as being 'on a knife's edge'. Sydney was founded by criminals who for years formed a majority of its population. Then, when theyve proven themselves enough, they rise in the ranks and move onto larger scale illicit activity. 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.'. What Type Of Organised Crime Are These Families/Gangs A Part Of? Bassam's cousin Mohammed 'Little Crazy' Hamzy (right) is currently serving time in jail for shooting two men in 2012. At 2am that Saturday, the home of Maha Hamze was shot at in a drive-by attack. Today, Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and all over Australia are notorious for weapons & drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. Drive-bys were virtually unheard of in Sydney until the mid-1990s, when the sons and grandsons of hardworking Lebanese migrants emerged as serious players in a world of organized crime, hitherto dominated by Vietnamese and Calabrian gangs. Thats whats so disturbing., Lebanese-born educator Keysar Trad believes criminality in the community is a by-product of overly strict parents who expect their children to excel at school, and racism in the classroom and playground that prevents them from doing so. Play it now! Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. The shooting murder of Mejid Hamzy (left), older brother of notorious criminal Bassam (right), has sparked fears of an all-out war between criminal clans fighting for control of Sydney's west, (L to R) Criminals Rachad Alameddine and his brother Jihad pose for a photo with their cousins Hamdi and Rafat. 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. If I opened up my lunchbox and pulled out a Lebanese roll, I would get hassled. A member of the Alameddine crime family found with guns and cocaine in Mays Hill | Police trying to head off a gang war in Sydney have seized . 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!' The family of the late Kobe Bryant has agreed to a $28.5 million settlement with Los Angeles County to resolve the remaining claims in a lawsuit over deputies and firefighters sharing grisly . One of the brawlers was spotted with a large knife in his hand. lebanese crime families melbourne. In only four Sydney. 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. Sydney's Lebanese gangs 2 of 5 TheGanglandman3 5.13K subscribers 499K views 12 years ago Takes a look inside Australia's world of Lebanese crime gangs. 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. 'They are organised criminal groups targeting each other,' Asst Comm Thurtell said. Most of the gangs in Sydney are often offshoots of bigger, foreign organisations. Killing and shooting and illegal activity have become part of daily life. In total 22 people were banned from certain areas in Sydney's west and east. Her journalism career began in early college at the University of California, Irvine where she . Sydney crime families are a far cry from the gangsters and long trench coats we see on TV dramas. Several other gang members were seriously injured. There are two significant sources of crime in Sydney: money laundering and drugs. 'Obviously these are organised criminal syndicates who are targeting each other and they know who they are targeting,' NSW Police assistant commissioner Peter Thurtell said. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Both gangs had resumes that ran from car theft and rebirthing to protection, standover rackets and drugs. In 1994 I was stationed at Redfern. They are in continuous rivalry over the country's resources and budgets. Man stabbed in the neck at Wynyard station in Sydney CBD, The Criminal Sydney Underworld (And The Australian Families Of Crime). Home. The very next day, bullets were fired into the home of another Alameddine. This episode takes a look at the. Id punch any Aussie kid who even looked at me., (MORE:Circle Sentencing: Alternative Justice in Australia). They know we will come knocking on their door.'. The bank was definitely involved in laundering (for a 22 per cent fee), tax fraud, and stealing from investors, and has been Keep Reading, All around the world, first and second generation immigrants often form a higher proportion of criminals than of the general population. Talal Alameddine is the most infamous in his family, despite having numerous criminals among his relatives. 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. The Ones That Didnt Make It: Australia-Bound Refugees Languish in Indonesia, Circle Sentencing: Alternative Justice in Australia, Wildfires Scorch Australia As Temperatures Reach Record Highs, Nelson Mandelas Extraordinary Life: An Interactive Timeline, How Did Gaddafi Die? In the immediate aftermath of Hamzy's death they banned members of his crew, the Alameddine crew and others from certain parts of Sydney their rivals were known to haunt in an attempt to avoid an all-out gang war. Rate Provo's attorneys or make an appointment at Most gangs settle in Sydneys rural areas, where police presence isnt as strong as it is in the city. 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. ', 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. Money laundering gangs take up most operations in the city, moving cash in and out of casinos and banks. I was lucky; I got a second chance. The main center of Arab organized crime is Sydney, with a significant community of 120,000, followed by Melbourne. Asian gangs in Sydney are the most prominent members of the criminal underworld; they control most of the money laundering that goes on in the city, often in the heart of the urban areas. 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. McPherson decided to take Hakim under his wing and offered protection to the would-be gangster. That family member has since been revealed to be Rafat Alameddine. The SCPOs prevent them from having more than one mobile phone, using encrypted messenger services like WhatsApp or Wickr, or carrying more than $10,000 in cash. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Rafat Alameddine was responsible for, or in any way involved, in the shooting.