Sydney gangster Bilal Haouchar jailed in ‘safe haven’ Lebanon

For two decades, Bilal Haouchar was considered to be one of Sydney’s most ruthless gangsters. In a major victory for NSW Police, he has been arrested in a city he and other underworld figures thought was a “safe haven”.

One of Sydney's most ruthless gangsters Bilal Haouchar fled to Lebanon.

One of Sydney’s most ruthless gangsters of the past two decades, Bilal Haouchar, has been sentenced to eight years in a Lebanese jail on evidence supplied by NSW Police, putting fellow underworld figures who have fled to the Middle East in search of a safe haven on edge.

The decision, a major victory for NSW and federal police, has sent shockwaves through the underworld, particularly for those fugitives who have fled Sydney thinking they were safe in Lebanon.

There are currently six high-profile fugitives in Lebanon with NSW warrants out for their arrests for crimes from armed robbery to murder.

They include the boss of the Alameddine crime family, Rafat Alameddine, who is wanted over a conspiracy to kill two members of the rival Hamzy family, and also alleged fraudster Jean Nassif.

NSW Police acting assistant commissioner Jason Weinstein, head of the State Crime Command, said the message was clear for anyone wanted in NSW.

“You can run but you cannot hide, and that includes across international borders,” he said.

Police say many fugitives, such as Haouchar, have run their criminal enterprises from overseas because they think they are untouchable due to their dual citizenship with Lebanon.

Haouchar, 39, left Australia for Beirut in 2018 when he was facing kidnapping charges.

Bilal Haouchar has been jailed in Lebanon.

His sentencing is a gamechanger, with NSW Police refusing to say if its officers are working with Lebanese authorities to charge others in the country.

While living in luxury in Lebanon, Haouchar’s power and influence grew.

Other major players fell, with Comanchero bikie Hakan Ayik arrested in Turkey and Lone Wolf bikie boss Erkan “Erik the Wolf’’ Keskan dying in Turkey.

They left a massive opening in the Sydney drug market, which Haouchar exploited.

NSW Police handed over evidence to the Internal Security Forces (ISF) in Lebanon, via the Australian Federal Police (AFP) International Liaison Network.

This resulted in the arrest of four men in Beirut in November 2023. Last week, Haouchar and his close associate Abdul Baghdadi were sentenced to eight and seven years’ jail respectively for drug supply and money laundering offences.

Bilal Haouchar’s arrest sent shockwaves through Sydney’s underworld.

Weeks before his arrest, Baghdadi left Australia after he was shot at outside a Kirribilli unit, only to be picked up by Lebanese police as he and Haouchar gambled in a Beirut casino.

“Through strong partnerships between law enforcement here in Australia and across the world, our investigative networks are focused on common goals, working together to disrupt international criminal syndicates,” Mr Weinstein said.

“This investigation sends an unequivocal message to anyone who thinks they can profit by bringing their illegal activities to the shores of our country or inflict harm on the citizens of NSW.”

When Haouchar was arrested, many in the Sydney underworld believed he would be out in months and were confident he would not face court in Lebanon.

“This has rattled a few of those guys over there,” an underworld source said.

“When the heat got too heavy here (in Sydney), they thought they were safe in Lebanon,” another said.

Originally published as Sydney gangster Bilal Haouchar jailed in ‘safe haven’ Lebanon