One of Australia’s most wanted men who was on the run in Lebanon has been arrested after police cracked a huge crime syndicate.
Bilal Haouchar was one of more than 20 arrests made by NSW Police in dozens of raids executed on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph reported.
A $1 billion drug empire was brought down following a year-long investigation.
Haouchar, 37, was picked up overnight in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
“You cannot underestimate how big this is,” one underworld source told Daily Telegraph.
“He is feared. The word is coming from Lebanon that he and mates have been picked up.”
Organised Crime Squad boss Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said the syndicate allegedly had access to more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency.
The operation arrested 24 people, executed 37 warrants and seized 21 firearms.
“This has been a 12 month investigation in relation to a significant transnational international organised crime network,” Det Supt Faux said.
The detective said the investigation revealed the crims recruited “trusted insiders” from legitimate businesses who had technical skills.
More Coverage
The Daily Telegraph also revealed Nedal Haouchar, Bilal’s brother, was stopped at Sydney International Airport on Sunday night as he was about to fly overseas.
Nedal faced Downing Centre Local Court on Monday charged with nine offences, among them two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, directing the activities of a criminal group, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Haouchar was given a two-year good behaviour bond in 2018 after he pleaded guilty to helping two masked gunmen cover up the shooting murder of western Sydney man Ali Eid in November 2012.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7zZqroqeelrlwr9GipJ5nkarAtb7ApaCaq12ivLTAjLCYp6yVmXqjtcuao2agkaTCpLTAq7FmmaKnsrTAxJ1koqZdobKjrc2opWimlazAbr%2FTqKmyZ2dtrnGDk59tnJ5laYBxfZFtcHJuZWuvp4SWam%2BaaWVr