Notorious ‘dial a dealer’ Alameddine drug gang eliminated in morning raids

Peter Bodkin
AAP
Police have claimed victory over Sydney’s notorious Alameddine crime gang after a three-year investigation targeting its dial-a-dealer drug business. File photo.
Police have claimed victory over Sydney’s notorious Alameddine crime gang after a three-year investigation targeting its dial-a-dealer drug business. File photo. Credit: Dean Lewins/AAPImage

More than a dozen people have been arrested in early morning raids as police declare victory over a major crime gang accused of being behind a dial-a-dealer drug network.

The arrests across Sydney on Wednesday follow a near-three-year investigation into the Alameddine crime gang, based in the city’s southwest, which police say has been running a drug business spanning everything from importation to street-level supply.

The probe uncovered what detectives say was a sophisticated “dial-a-dealer” syndicate responsible for selling both illegal and illicit prescription drugs across NSW.

Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.

Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.

Email Us
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

The gang was also behind a series of violent attacks - including murders - linked to tussles for control of Sydney’s lucrative drug trade, investigators have said.

Earlier in March police shut down more than two dozen phone numbers potentially linked to more than 50,000 customers as part of a probe into the network.

A cohort of about 250 officers were involved in the busts on Wednesday, which police said resulted in 15 arrests - including the accused onshore masterminds of the gang’s drug operation.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said the arrests had eliminated what was left of the criminal network in Australia.

Previous raids, in May 2022, had pushed many of the main players in the network overseas, he said.

“Today’s operation has cleaned up what was left of them on our shores,” Mr Hudson said.

One of the Alameddine gang’s alleged kingpins, Masood Zakaria, was charged with a string of serious offences in December - including conspiracy to murder - after being deported from Turkey.

He was allegedly involved in a failed plot to murder rival underworld figure Ibrahem Hamze in 2021, after which investigators said he fled Australia in a fishing boat shortly before his planned arrest.

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 14-02-2025

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 14 February 202514 February 2025

Fiery hecklers deal PM harsh renewables reality check as election speculation mounts.