Earlier we met Redfern-based Frank Hakim, the first major Lebanese criminal in Sydney, and younger men such as Louis Bayeh and Danny Karam. Sydney Terrorised By Lebanese-Muslim Crime Gangs (Miranda Devine's article from the Sydney Morning Herald on 22 December 2005.) WhatsApp chat is just for everyday banter (that's 'Why the last-minute delay?' There are certainly criminal groups you could describe as Middle Eastern in origin but the lines are now blurring, he tells TIME. jewish british actresses; how old is meryl lipstein Sydney A. Charles joined the 4 News Now team as a Breaking News Anchor and Producer in June of 2022. Sydney Morning Herald warned: "Criminal gangs in the Vietnamese community are increasingly heavily armed, are moving into drugs and gambling, establishing links with Australian crime figures, and becoming involved in standover rackets in their own community.". In total 22 people were banned from certain areas in Sydney's west and east. Australia's Pacific gangland. The sharp increase in Sydney gang wars has shown police that the structure behind these families has changed. From the outset, the City of Bankstown in south-western Sydneys sprawling migrant belt is a picture of multiculturalism. Watch exclusive vision of the moment Hamze is killed in the video above During the 1990s, Lebanese-Australian gangs took hold of Sydney. And since their areas dont have a lot of police presence, they act a lot more openly and get into turf wars quite often. Photo / Thinkstock. 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. One of the brawlers was spotted with a large knife in his hand. Police believe he may have been responsible for several assassinations including the 2016 death of Hamad 'The Executioner' Assaad, and that his murder is definitely part of a gang-related attack. Hed also provide these establishments with protection from other violent gangs. 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.'. The very next day, bullets were fired into the home of another Alameddine. There are fears a feud between two warring Sydney gangs could escalate after the public assassination of Bilal Hamze. Ibrahim came out and spoke with the heavily-tattooed Haouchar and calmed the situtation, but police eventually arrested and charged the would be intruder. In the violent feud, one of Mrs Darwiche's sons, AbdulQader, was shot dead and another was convicted of two murders. Curious about these gangs and Australian families of crime? He actively avoided publicity, keeping his criminal acts to a minimum (compared to other crime bosses, at least). At first they resisted, but we made them believe that respect is something every child deserves, but that they needed to take action to earn that respect, he says. Lebanese organized crime syndicates generally are active globally . Then click on any blue marker to find out more. Sydneys underworld is surprisingly diverse, with gang members and mobsters coming from every background. The rate of crime has steadily been reducing in the past 15 years, and Sydney is one of the safest cities in the country. Low 37F. In certain parts of the region, life is structured around extended clan families, a number of whom are active in criminal activities such as narcotics trafficking, kidnapping for ransom and car theft. . The geographic heartland of Australias 100,000-strong Lebanese community, its red brick apartments and cement-sheet homes are peppered with mosques, musallas and churches. Mohammad, better known as 'Butch',arrived at John's clifftop home and attempted to provoke a confrontation over money. 'You don't give them a green light by any means, but you have an open dialogue so that you can go to them and say "this is a problem" and they will act. He will call Goulburn Supermax, Australia's most secure prison home until at least 2042, Bassam's father Khaled (left) moved his family to Australia in the 1970s and was himself jailed in the mid-1990s on drugs charges. 2015 Sydney Crime Museum. 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!' 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. The recent brawl followed a similar fight last year behind bars between the two most infamous people with Hamzy and Alameddine as a surname. Originally from Lebanon, Hakim established his empire in Australia after emigrating to Sydney in 1952. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. Middle Eastern gangs, on the other hand, have made extortion against nightclubs, ram raids, and car theft more common in the CDB. The Gangland War. Mejid Hamzy, brother. 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. Australian Bikie Gangs: Complete List of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, McPherson decided to take Hakim under his wing and offered protection to the would-be gangster. Sydney crime bosses, on the other hand, tend to look more like seasoned thugs. 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. There are two significant sources of crime in Sydney: Who Are The Top Sydney Crime Bosses/Families? Manhunt under way after shooting in Sydney suburb. So the weapon of choice switched from guns to sharp razors, creating so-called razor gangs. Policing in the 1960s and 1970s: a memoir. And an otherwise law-abiding majority erect a wall of silence when dealing with police they regularly accuse and sue for thuggery and racial profiling. 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. BEL MOONEY:Why does caring for my dad take over my life? He long blamed Michael Ibrahim, the younger brother of famed Kings Cross identity John. 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. He was stabbed in prison last week. '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. Fred could pick up the phone and get anything done like that [clicks his fingers].. [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. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Crime Families in Sidney: The Darwiche-Razzak-Fahda Family Conflict Bilal's angst towards the Ibrahims was echoed by his cousin Mohammad last year when he tried to stand over nightclub boss John Ibrahim. So the problem we have now in Sydney is a ramification of what has been going on in Lebanon.. 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. lebanese crime families sydney. 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. Lebanese organized crime is active in the country of Lebanon itself, as well as in countries and areas with a large Arab community, most notably United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Canada also in the Triple Frontier in South America. 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. 17K subscribers in the AutoNewspaper community. The 12 questions you NEED to ask before moving in with your partner, according to a relationship expert. Id punch any Aussie kid who even looked at me., (MORE:Circle Sentencing: Alternative Justice in Australia). 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. Osman was interrogated after returning from the Turkey and Syria border in 2015, as it was a designated no-go zone. Previously, criminal gangs were ruled by one family or figure, similar to the Russian mafia. Lebanese organized crime syndicates generally are active . 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. McPherson decided to take Hakim under his wing and offered protection to the would-be gangster. He set up the gang Brothers 4 Life, and with a bevvy of mobile phones hidden in his cell, ran a sophisticated drug and crime ring. Bassam will not be eligible for parole until at least 2042. The family name first came onto the radar of police in the mid-1990s, when Khaled was jailed for his role in a drug ring. The main center of Lebanese organized crime is Sydney, with a significant community of 120,000, followed by . And despite the fact that Machhour had not visited Bqarsouna in more than 30 years, Ahmad maintains that he kept strong links. You might think all this talk is something to be concerned about, but dont freak out about it! . Prior to his assassination, Mejid Hamzy was more than happy to fly under the radar as he went about his business in the underworld. 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? In that 8-year period, several men from each family were arrested, charged, and convicted for their crimes. Salim, 18, and Toufik, 64, were targeted as they sat inside a ute at Osgood Street around 8.55am. And these guys are well armed. The Tibas, Haddaras, Chaouks, Kassabs, and Kheirs are north-west Melbourne's version of the Five Families, the major players in the New York mafia. 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. Mafiosi within "Al Cossa Kella" don't share any profit through a communal fund. The street side brawl came a day before a series of shootings at homes linked to both a Hamzy and Alameddine relative. '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. 'Bassam was big but Mejid is a different breed. Both gangs had resumes that ran from car theft and rebirthing to protection, standover rackets and drugs. 14 Dorchester St, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 5Y8 Canada +1 902-562-3412 Website. 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. Today, Lebanese crime gangs in Sydney and all over Australia are notorious for weapons & drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. (MORE:The Ones That Didnt Make It: Australia-Bound Refugees Languish in Indonesia), In the last few decades unfortunately we have not had peace in Lebanon, Pierre Semaan, of the Australian Lebanese Christian Foundation, tells TIME. Six male members of the Alameddine crew are already in jail or before the courts, facing charges related to guns, drugs, violence and organised crime. money laundering and armed robbery. 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. One reason is that energetic and ambitious men who have difficulty obtaining legitimate opportunities turn to illegal ones. / lebanese crime families sydney. . Over recent years Strike Force Raptor against bikies and the middle-eastern crime squad has seen criminals riled up and retaliate. By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 09:29 GMT, 16 November 2020 | Updated: 02:47 GMT, 18 June 2021. They include some members of the Hamzy crew being banned from entering Mount Druitt, Rooty HIll, Blacktown and Merrylands where the Alammedine gang frequents. 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). How Matt Hancock and Priti Patel shared stories of heavy-handed police Astrologer Russell Grant admits he was 'in denial' after being diagnosed with a brain tumour as Strictly JANET STREET-PORTER: You're not a teenager, Mr Hancock. While the heart of their operations tends to remain in city centres, police investigations have shown that they manage operations all around the country. All rights reserved. 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. After finishing school, Basha became involved in more serious crimes. Bassam Hamzy is one of NSW's most notorious prisoners having been convicted of killing, drug and gang offences. NSW Police assistant commissioner Peter Thurtell claimed the ongoing gang wars on the streets of western Sydney are drug related. 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.
