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Draft:The Sydney Gangland War (2020s)

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The Sydney Gangland War (2020s) is an ongoing organised-crime feud in Sydney, Australia between multiple crime families, predominantly of Middle-Eastern descent, as well as outlaw motorcycle clubs and street gangs. The conflict stems from both historical rivalries,[1][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed][2] as well as rampant international competition for control over Sydney's drug trade.[3] At least 24 people have been murdered in connection with the war since August 2020.[4][5][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed]

Sydney's drug market

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A study conducted by the University of South Australia determined that "Australia had the highest methamphetamine consumption per capita compared with 24 other countries", based on samples taken between December of 2021 and February of 2022.[6] A high demand for illicit drugs, paired with a geographical isolation from production centres, has culminated in Australia having some of the most expensive drug prices on the planet.[7] On 16 July, 2023, Sydney Morning Herald reporter Perry Duffin reported that "only two Gulf states with death penalties for drug crimes fetch slightly higher prices" than Australia.[7] These factors have eventuated in Sydney's key drug-game players going global. According to Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Kirsty Schofield, organised motorcycle gangs, for example, who previously only ever operated on the domestic front, now “send representatives to Colombia to be closer to the source of the Cocaine and broker deals to import it to Australia. Other major players, Balkan and Italian organised crime groups do the same because we pay top dollar".[7]

International involvement in Australia's drug trade as a whole has obviously lent itself to the escalation of underworld conflicts in the nation's most populous city, Sydney. Pre-existing groups continue fighting old battles with historic rivals, and, newly, they fight to maintain their market share against new-comers in the burgeoning industry.[7] The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the world's largest transnational syndicates, including the ’Ndrangheta, as well as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, have operatives pulling the strings on Australian soil.[7]

Elevation in distribution-activity then led to the formation of "The Commission" in 2021; a ruling body established by hierarchical members of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club to "mandate a tax-for-protection agreement for anyone who wanted to import cocaine and sell it in NSW and also promised to control prices".[8][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] In some early explanatory messages sent out by the Commission, they cited occurrences such as the 2020 dilution of the price of ice; “As you seen in 2020 the price of Fry (street talk for ice) reached 250 and in a matter of 1 month it dropped to 80k. This is because there is NO STRUCTURE, no rules, no reasoning and to be honest there’s NO SENSE."[8] In the same fleet of messages, The Commission also outlined the Quid pro quo of their protection services; “Every time a (shipment) lands in Sydney, you reach out to the commission and tell them what (shipment) it is, pay a small fee to the commission... Make sure your drivers never get napped by street thugs and if they do we back you all the way". In turn, The Commission has been linked to a number of kidnappings since its formation,[8] and is well-known in the underworld for its operations of city-wide management.

Groups and factions

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2020

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On 9 June 2020, the home of Alameddine crime network associate Shaylin Zreika was shot up in a drive-by shooting in Westmead, New South Wales.[9][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] It is unclear whether this shooting was related to any tensions with the Hamzys.

On June 29th, 2020, Robert Atkinson, 44, was shot to death in his home in Wentworthville, New South Wales.[10] Atkinson planned to sell the firearm online (along with three clips of ammunition) for $13,000, to a target market he referred to as “Habibs”, to friend Justin Ryan.[10] Earlier in the month, 44 year old Atkinson had acquired a Six Corp model KS-30 self-loading rifle from a coworker he knew from Allied Moving Services.[10] Atkinson planned to sell the firearm online (along with three clips of ammunition) for $13,000, to a target market he referred to as “Habibs”, to friend Justin Ryan.[10] On Telegram, Atkinson found a buyer, and covertly discussed the sale by referring to it in code words.[10] When the prospective buyer, Brothers for Life associate Mohammed Zarshoy,[11] arrived, a struggle ensued which wound up in Atkinson being shot and killed.[10]

On August 29th, 2020, Fares Abounader, 39, was shot to death at his home in Panania.[12][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] Abounader was killed soon after patching over to the Bandidos Motorcycle Club from the Comanchero Motorcycle Club. Abounader was a former high profile friend to the likes of Alen Moradian.[13][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] Abounader was one of the six Comancheros involved in the Airport Brawl of 2009, alongside Mick Hawi, which claimed the life of Hells Angels associate Anthony Zervas.[13] Abounader was well-liked, and a very kind-hearted man, according to those close to him.[13] Abounader made the fatal decision to patch over to the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, which would see him murdered as payback, in reaction to a ‘final straw’ event- the stabbing murder of Pitasoni Ulavalu by fellow Comanchero Frederick Tuifua in Canberra.[13] Fares had long resented the division between the members of his club, such as the rivalry between Mick Hawi and his successor Mark Buddle.[13] Fares had joined the club in order to attach himself to a brotherhood, and decided to leave the club when it became clear to him that brotherhood was no longer a communally held priority.[13] This would see him killed. In addition, it was also speculated that Fares may have been planning to bring other Comanchero Motorcycle Club bikies with him when he patched over, which would have been another reason that contributed to his murder.[12]

On 14 October 2020, members of the Hamze/Hamzy crime family began attempting to standover Alameddine crime network associate Shaylin Zreika. A police affidavit declared that Ibrahem Hamze, Tareek Hamze and Haysem Hamze attacked Zreika with a metal pole in Sefton, New South Wales, and then stole his mobile phone.[14]

On 16 October 2020, an unnamed member of the Alameddine crime network was robbed of drugs by members of the Hamze/Hamzy crime family.[15][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] Around the same time period, 400kg of cocaine had also been stolen from Sydney-based members of the Comanchero Motorcycle Club, who at the time were allied with the Alameddine crime network. Mejid Hamzy was wrongly suspected of orchestrating the drug-rip.[15]

On 17 October 2020, the Auburn, New South Wales home of Maha Hamze and other members of the Hamze/Hamzy family was peppered with bullets in a drive-by shooting. Maha Hamze, the matriarch of the family, is not thought to be involved in the family business.[16]

On 19 October 2020, at 12:35am, Rafat Alameddine's house was shot up in Merrylands, New South Wales.[16]

On 19 October 2020, at 7:34am, almost exactly seven hours later, Mejid Hamzy was shot to death outside his home in Condell Park by Alameddine crime network associates.[16] This was the first murder of the Hamzy/Alameddine conflict.

On 23 November 2020, a 17-year-old associate of the Alameddine crime network family was shot in South Granville, New South Wales.[17]

On 30 November 2020, Adnan Salameh, 30, was shot to death at his home in Tregear.[18][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] Police believe Salameh was in debt to drug dealers at the time of his murder.[18]

On 8 December 2020, the New South Wales Police Force made an application to the Supreme Court of New South Wales to have Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) enforced against members of the Hamzy family and Alameddine crime network.[19]

2021

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On 30 January 2021, Fire and Rescue New South Wales were called to extinguish a car-fire on Hume Road in Smithfield, New South Wales. As they tended to the blaze, 22 year old Alameddine crime network associate Mejed Derbas was discovered shot-to-death inside the vehicle. Derbas was allegedly a "mid-level drug dealer" in the organisation, and was killed supposedly because of ongoing internal conflict.[20]

On 30 January 2021, innocent father Mustafa Namaan was shot to death in Hurstville, New South Wales in a fatal case of mistaken identity. Police believe Namaan was murdered by associates of the Alameddine crime network who mistook Namaan for Ibrahem Hamze.[17]

On 15 February 2021, Maha Hamze's unit block was shot up by Alameddine crime network associates for the second time, with a stray bullet narrowly missing a nurse at nearby Auburn Hospital.[17]

On 12 March 2021, the home of Asaad Alahmad, Rafat Alameddine's brother-in-law, was shot up in Guildford, New South Wales.[17]

On 8 June 2021, Assad Alahmad was shot in the neck in Guildford, New South Wales. At the time, the New South Wales Police Force did not believe this shooting was part of the ongoing Hamzy/Alameddine crime network feud.[17] However, a report published on November 27th, 2023 by well-known The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) crime reporter Josh Hanrahan declared that Salim Hamze was responsible for the Alahmad shooting.[21]

On 17 June 2021, prominent Hamze/Hamzy crime family member Bilal Hamze, who had previously attempted to be a peacekeeper between the crews, was shot to death on Bridge Street, Sydney in the Sydney central business district after leaving the Kid Kyoto restaurant, which is owned by Sam Prince (restaurateur).[17]

On 14 July 2021, Alameddine crime network associates Ezzaddine and Mohammad Omar were arrested for the Mejid Hamzy murder.[17]

On 6 August 2021, Alameddine crime network associate Shady Kanj, 22, was shot to death in Chester Hill, New South Wales.[9][22] In an article published on November 27th, 2023, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) reported that Kanj was murdered by Salim Hamze.[21] Before the murder, a text had been sent to Kanj asking for a delivery of cocaine to Boundary Rd in Chester Hill.[23][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] When Kanj arrived, accompanied by fellow associate Wessam El Jajieh, a group of four men approached his vehicle, and Kanj was shot to death. Once Kanj was shot, Jajieh sped away from the scene, with Hamze continuing fire as he made his escape. A total of 13 shots were fired. Whilst Hamze fired at Jajieh, a stray bullet struck innocent bystander Ramadan Osman in the head a few hundred metres away.[23]

On 14 August 2021, two armed and masked men in a stolen Mercedes were pulled over and arrested in North Sydney, New South Wales, and charged with conspiring to murder alleged Hamzy/Hamze Crime Family boss Ibrahem Hamze. As of March 24th, 2022, three men were charged in connection to the foiled murder plot. These men were Samuel John Rokomaqisa, Joseph 'Jo Fresh' Vokai, and an unnamed 19 year old.[24] Police sources stated that Vokai was viewed as the leader of the infamous Islander gang KVT, who have regularly been used as muscle by the Alameddine crime network.[25][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed]

On 3 September 2021, Salim Hamze shot at a car containing Asaad Alahmad, Adam Achrafi, and Khodar Hamad in Granville, New South Wales.[23]

On 20 October 2021, Young Hamzy/Hamze Crime Family drug-runner Salim Hamze, 18, and his innocent father Toufik, 64, were shot to death while they sat in a car outside their Guildford, New South Wales home.[17] Salim and Toufik were the 3rd and 4th members of the Hamzy Family to die within a year.

On 10 November 2021, Alameddine crime network/R4W member Bilal Mafhoud was shot at while he sat on the front patio of his Guildford, New South Wales home.[26][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed]

On 29 November 2021, Alameddine crime network associate Murat Gulasi was shot in the leg at a gym in Prospect, New South Wales.[27] Fiti Ah-Cheung and Joseph 'Freddy14' Howard were charged over the shooting, along with crime boss Ibrahem Hamze.[28] Ah-Cheung and Howard are believed to associates of the 'RFA' (Ready For Anything) gang, which is strongly linked to Mount Druitt gang Onefour.[29][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] The victim of the shooting, Murat Gulasi, later died of unrelated causes at a gym in Istanbul shortly after fleeing the country.[30][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed]

2022

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On 6 January 2022, Ghassan Amoun, the brother of Mejid Hamzy and imprisoned Hamzy family founder Bassam Hamzy, was shot to death after leaving a beauty salon in South Wentworthville, New South Wales.[17] According to The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) reporter Mark Morri, as stated in Episode 3 of the award-winning 'The War' series, he had only been out of jail for three days before he was murdered.[31][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] Amoun bore a different last name to his brothers Mejid and Bassam as he had opted to go by his mother's maiden name.[31] Amoun was the fifth and last member of the Hamzy/Hamze Clan to be murdered during the war, as of May 2024.

On 16 January 2022, The Daily Telegraph reported that well-known Sydney underworld figure Mustafa Ramlawie, previously a friend to both the Hamzy Family and the Alameddine crime network Family, had had a $1 million dollar bounty placed on his head by the Hamzys.[32][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] This came after the Hamzys interpreted a lack of contact from Ramlawie throughout the conflict as him having sided with the Alameddines.[32] Mustafa Ramlawie, as well as Mustafa's relative Khaled, were both on the list of 24 criminal figures that police sought to ban Mohammad 'Almo' Alameddine from associating with in 2022.[33][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed]

On 20 January 2022, a utility truck containing two individuals, believed to be associates of Mohammad 'Almo' Alameddine, was shot at on Ostend St in South Granville, New South Wales.[9]

On 23 January 2022, Talal Alameddine was stabbed in a brawl in Goulburn Correctional Centre.[34][Behind paywall: check author, date and title, verification needed] It is unclear whether the attack on Talal was related to the ongoing conflict.

On 25 January 2022, Conflict between the Hamzy clan and Alameddine crime network came to a halt as the remaining members of the Hamzy family hierarchy were arrested.[28] Alleged Hamzy family boss Ibrahem 'Ibby' Hamze was arrested in Queensland and extradited to New South Wales, and charged with soliciting the attempted murder of Murat Gulasi.[28] On the same day, senior Hamzy clan members Bilal El-Chamy, Ahmed El-Chamy, Tareek Hamzy and Haissam Hamzy were arrested for the September 2021 kidnapping and stabbing of a man (supposedly an Alameddine crime network associate) for failing to provide fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards.[28]

Casualties

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References

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  1. ^ "How one marriage split Sydney's crime clans". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Wang, Jessica (29 April 2022). "Sydney gangland war: Inside bloody Alameddine and Hamzy feud". News.com.au (www.news.com.au). Nationwide News Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  3. ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath (29 July 2023). "Police say common thread linking Sydney's gangland shootings is drugs". ABC News. Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024. 'We know for a fact what's behind it all': The common thread linking Sydney's gangland shootings
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hanrahan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Brother of Moradian's alleged killer shot dead in front of his mum". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 27 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Gibson, Candy (30 June 2022). "Australia is high on ice, eclipsing 24 other countries". UNISA (www.unisa.edu.au). Adelaide, SA: University of South Australia (UniSA). Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Duffin, Perry (15 July 2023). "Cocaine cartels cash in on sky-high prices in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald (www.smh.co.au). Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Cocaine price wars: 'We'll get your family'". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 23 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b c "Underworld war victim's dad pleads for gun change". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 23 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ a b c d e f Bolza, Miklos (21 March 2023). "Man denies firing fatal shot in gun deal gone wrong". The Canberra Times (www.canberratimes.com.au). Australian Community Media. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference DT:05 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b "Slain bikie 'knew price was on his head'". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Slain Hawi ally bikie was tattooed 'softie', friends say". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Reddie, Mark (8 December 2020). "Court hears of shootings, metal pole attack as police bid to restrict freedoms of Sydney underworld families". ABC News (www.abc.net.au). Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Revealed: What triggered Sydney's bloody underworld war". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b c Hanrahan, Josh; Morri, Mark (19 June 2021). "Hamzy vs Alameddine: Police say ceasefire plea in gang war led to killing". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). News Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 4 March 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hanrahan, Josh (27 July 2021). "Rafat Alameddine 'boss' of crime network in war with Hamzys, police allege". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Man charged over 2020 shooting murder". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  19. ^ Zemek, Steve (8 December 2020). "Violent street brawl kicked off Sydney underworld feud that led to Bassam Hamzy's brother murder: court". News.com.au (www.news.com.au). Sydney, NSW: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. NCA NewsWire. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  20. ^ Hunter, Fergus (7 December 2021). "'Callous' murder believed to be linked to internal Alameddine network conflict". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, NSW: Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  21. ^ a b Hanrahan, Josh (27 November 2023). "How unknown hitmen Hamad Assaad and Salim Hamze sparked Sydney gang war". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  22. ^ Keoghan, Sarah (3 August 2022). "Police release vision from McDonald's drive-through amid murder investigation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b c "'Came out the top of my skull': Moment bystander is shot in head and survives". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  24. ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath (24 March 2022). "Man charged with allegedly organising failed hit on Sydney underworld figure Ibrahem Hamze". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). ABC. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Alameddine associate charged over failed Hamze kill plot". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Drug supplier learns fate for role in 'deadly' criminal group". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  27. ^ Saunokonoko, Mark (29 November 2021). "Man shot in 'targeted' attack at Sydney gym". 9 News (www.9news.com.au). Nine Entertainment Co. Pty Limited. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ^ a b c d Amin, Mridula; Xiao, Alison; Parkes-Hupton, Heath (25 January 2022). "Sydney underworld figure Ibrahem Hamze charged with soliciting a murder". ABC News (www.abc.net.au). Sydney, NSW: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). ABC. Archived from the original on 12 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Shocking act: Hamzy-Alameddine feud spills into Sydney postcodes war". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Alameddine associate dies in Turkish gym". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Sydney's bloody gangland war about to spill into Lebanon: Cops". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Next target in Sydney's bloody gangland war". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Revealed: the people cops want Alameddine banned from seeing". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  34. ^ "Alameddine brother stabbed in prison". The Daily Telegraph (www.dailytelegraph.com.au). Sydney, NSW: News Pty Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2024.

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