Rabeah Halabi charged with drug offences for alleged role as runner in Oatley syndicate

An alleged runner for a “sophisticated” drug syndicate that operated like a “business” has been granted bail months after he allegedly sold cocaine to customers.

Rabeah Halabi, 21, was granted bail in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

An alleged runner for a “sophisticated” drug syndicate that operated like a “business” has been granted bail months after he allegedly sold cocaine to customers.

Rabeah Halabi, 21, appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after he was arrested and charged with drug supply, participating in a criminal group and supplying drugs on an ongoing basis.

Police allege Halabi supplied 78g of cocaine on an ongoing basis from June to August last year and was part of a criminal group operating from the Oatley area.

The court heard the syndicate was “very sophisticated” and was run like a “business” with references made to wages being distributed and members of the group not being able to finish work until certain times, with some asked “why are you slacking off?”

Police allege there were a number of runners involved in the syndicate with a large quantity of drugs supplied in the community.

Rabeah Halabi allegedly supplied 78g of cocaine. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

The court heard 13 other people had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the syndicate, and two of the other alleged “runners” had been granted bail.

The court heard Halabi’s stepsister Jasmine Halabi was also arrested as part of the drug investigation and the pair were communicating regularly during the alleged period of offending.

The court heard Halabi had not been in contact with his stepsister, who was 11 years older than him, since her arrest due to a “fracture in the family”.

Jasmine Halabi was charged with 10 offences including supplying drugs on an ongoing basis, participating in a criminal group, supplying more than an indictable quantity of drugs and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Halabi’s defence lawyer Trudie Cameron submitted Halabi was “simply a runner” and he was not directing or organising the sale of drugs.

She said Halabi’s mother, sister and partner were in court to support him, adding his mother was “sickened” when she learnt of the allegations.

The court heard Halabi’s mother expressed “horror and dismay” about her son being in this situation, noting it was not the way he was raised.

The mother also noted that she was a psychologist and her son had mental health conditions that needed to be treated, adding he had been tested by other medical professionals.

Halabi will be back before the court in March.

Ms Cameron said if Halabi was convicted, a full time jail sentence was possible but not inevitable and he had strong family ties and no overseas connections.

The court also heard Halabi’s father was injured in a car accident and he was therefore at home to keep watch of him.

Ms Cameron said Halabi had a close relationship with his parents and his siblings, adding his arrest was a “wake up call” and his mother was determined to not let him “set a foot out of line”.

The court also heard that Halabi had not committed any other offences since August.

Ms Cameron submitted Halabi was young, had no previous criminal history and allegedly “made the foolish decision to engage in the behaviour” which spoke of his naivety.

Magistrate Jillian Kiely noted her concern about the operation’s sophistication but accepted Habali had an allegedly limited role and only was in contact with his upline supplier of drugs.

She granted him bail to live at his Heckenberg home, report to police, have one phone, offer a $5000 surety, and abide by a curfew unless attending counselling, employment, medical and legal appointments.

He was also prohibited from consuming illegal drugs and alcohol and must visit his doctor to be referred to counselling.

The case was adjourned to March 13.

Originally published as Rabeah Halabi charged with drug offences for alleged role as runner in Oatley syndicate