Sydney Gang War: Alameddine Empire Crumbles

After years of intensive investigations, including intercepted communications and surveillance, NSW Police executed a large-scale operation against the Alameddine organised crime network in Sydney's south-west. This significant police action targeted alleged senior members of a syndicate estimated to be earning $1 million weekly from drug trafficking.

Despite the flight of key figures like patriarch Rafat Alameddine to the Middle East, the police operation led to 16 arrests, including alleged local leader Ali Elmoubayed. This effectively dismantled the network's Australian operations, signaling a major shift in Sydney's criminal landscape.

The downfall of the Alameddine network has created a power vacuum, leading to intense conflict among rival groups vying for control. Once-loyal enforcers have abandoned allegiances, and new gangs, such as the self-proclaimed Coconut Cartel, have emerged, engaging in violent acts like firebombings and drive-by shootings.

While the local syndicate crumbles, Rafat Alameddine remains a focus for police intelligence, believed to be coordinating large-scale drug importations from Lebanon. The ongoing demand for methamphetamine and cocaine in Australia fuels this activity, with South-East Asian organised crime groups now reportedly taking over Sydney's underworld.

Despite the challenges of apprehending figures operating from abroad, NSW Police maintain a high priority on targeting overseas-based organised crime leaders. The department emphasizes that these individuals, even when hiding behind international jurisdictions, are not beyond reach and will be pursued.