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Details of the inner workings of an alleged massive dial-a-dealer drug syndicate have been revealed after police arrested 18 people in early morning raids on Tuesday.
Those arrested are alleged to be low to mid-level players in the Alameddine crime network which is involved in a bloody turf war across Sydney.
During the raids detectives also seized 36 phones allegedly used to sell drugs including cocaine that would net $250,000 a week in profits – with one phone alone containing 700 alleged customers.
Three of those arrested are already back on the streets on bail after appearing in court on Wednesday with documents providing a glimpse into the operations of the alleged syndicate.
‘Hey my fellow patrons we are on delivery and expanded delivery anywhere anytime we have the stuff to make your night and days DYNO as,’ one message sent from the alleged dealers on November 17, 2021 to hundreds of alleged customers reads.
‘Hello ladies and gentlemen snowy back with the best rockiest bags in town,’ another from February 23 this year reads.
One of the messages alleged Alameddine drug dealers belonging to the R4W offshoot sent out to hundreds of Sydneysiders (pictured)
Wessam El Jajieh (pictured) has been accused of being a low level street dealer and was charged with three offences including supply of less than 1g of cocaine
Detectives believe street dealers operated under nicknames such as ‘Snowy’ and ‘Chucky’ and were part of an offshoot of the Alameddine network known as R4W or Ready for War, court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph show.
The raids are the result of a 10-month investigation into the drug syndicate allegedly run by Asaad Alahmad, the brother-in-law of alleged Alameddine kingpin Rafat Alameddine.
Detectives on the investigation allege Alahmad discussed with Khaled and Abraham Zreika whether Mohammed Rifai, who uses a wheelchair, could work as dealer.
The three allegedly laughed saying he would be ‘ideal as he would just sit there’.
The three men released on bail on Wednesday are Wessam El Jajieh, Adam Alameddine, and Adam Achrafi with conditions they do not associate with other alleged members of the network.
An accused member of the Alameddine crime crew was dragged out of his house by police in just a pair of Bonds underwear during raids in Sydney on Tuesday
Police said alleged customers on the seized phones could expect a visit from officers (pictured: another of the texts sent to alleged customers)
El Jajieh, 22, was charged with three offences including supply of less than 1g of cocaine.
His defence barrister denied he had any involvement with the Alameddine clan.
He added his client lives with his mum and dad, was a laborer and is studying building design and management at Western Sydney University.
‘I would submit it is a weak crown case, there are a number of holes in the case which I’ve alluded to … and the likelihood of a custodial sentence if he was to be convicted is small,’ his barrister said.
Achrafi was also released despite the police prosecutor stating detectives will allege he is one of the leaders of R4W.
Adam Alemeddine, 25, is charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
‘Even though this is a very long and colourful fact sheet… involvement in it is very limited to a few days,’ his defence lawyer said.
Those arrested on Tuesday are aged between 19 and 28 with the exception of one 39-year-old man also taken into custody who is in hospital.
The majority of charges concern commercial drug supply, participating in or directing a criminal group, dealing with proceeds of crime and firearm offences.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she was confident police had ‘cut the head off the snake’, shutting down the syndicate altogether
Director of State Crime Command Detective Chief Superintendent, Darren Bennett says there will be more ‘operational activity planned for this week and this month’.
‘So this is essentially the beginning of it,’ he told ABC TV on Wednesday.
‘This is essentially targeting the root cause of the gangland violence we’re all aware of.
‘We’re going to work hard on these people until they get the message that sort of violence is not acceptable.’
Taskforce Erebus was recently formed with the goal of tackling organised crime in NSW following recent shootings.
One of those arrested on Tuesday was seen in a gold-plated wheelchair (pictured)
One of its roles is to co-ordinate existing operations so police don’t get in each other’s way.
Police began targeting the alleged syndicate last July with the formation of Strike Force Sugarcane.
Mr Bennett said the phones seized in the raids provided a treasure trove of information about drug dealers’ activities.
‘That information will form the basis of a lot of investigations going forward.
‘If you’ve been on those phones you can expect a knock on the door,’ he said.
Competition over the phones is believed to be a factor in a number of shootings as street dealers fought to steal or keep devices and their lucrative client base.
Police are seen speaking with one man arrested in the dawn raids on Tuesday (pictured)
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