Former Ibrahim brother-in-law Marwan Haddad facing 16 cocaine-sting related charges
THE former brother-in-law of nightclub boss John Ibrahim has been charged with being the alleged head of a major cocaine supplying syndicate.
NSW
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THE former brother-in-law of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim has been charged with being the alleged head of a major cocaine supplying syndicate.
A police fact sheet tendered in court alleged Marwan Haddad “knows no other life other than supplying prohibited drugs” and made at least $50,000 a week by selling cocaine, which supported a lavish lifestyle that saw him drive a BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
The 43-year-old was formerly married to Ibrahim’s sister Armani Stelio, who is also known as Fifi Ibrahim.
On Saturday, Haddad’s ex-wife was spotted at Parramatta Bail Court, where Haddad faced 16 charges and didn’t apply for bail.
Haddad and four other members of the alleged syndicate were arrested on Friday after a year-long investigation by the NSW Police Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad.
John Ibrahim is not suspected of any involvement in the alleged drug ring.
It came as yet another blow to the Ibrahim clan, which has had a year to forget after the arrests of brothers Michael and Fadi over an alleged drug and tobacco smuggling syndicate and the shooting of family bodyguard Tongan Sam at a wedding party.
One of those in court on Saturday was Haddad’s current wife, Catherine Ashley Le Brocq, 27, who was granted bail on nine charges, including allegedly supplying cocaine and dealing with $158,390 cash that was earned through criminal means.
Magistrate Christopher McRobert told a teary and pregnant Le Brocq: “You’ve been living off the proceeds of drug supply, to put it quite bluntly”.
According to a police fact sheet tendered to the court, detectives received information in January that Haddad and Le Brocq were allegedly using a Kennards storage unit in Macquarie Park to store cash, firearms and explosives.
Over two days from March 2, police accessed the two units and seized $158,140 cash in a Hugo Boss and Louis Vuitton bag, a Beretta pistol, two sticks of explosives and 100 rounds of ammunition.
On March 6, Le Brocq realised the cash and weapons were missing and police set their trap by listening in on phone taps, court documents said.
In one call she allegedly blamed Haddad and said: “You’ve told someone”.
In others she allegedly told him: “It’s someone who knew us. They knew us. And someone who knew us because everything is gone,” and “Someone’s giving information on us and I think it’s (inaudible)”.
Between March and November, police monitored the couple in tens of thousands of phone calls and gathered information about the alleged cocaine supplying syndicate.
According to the fact sheet, police became aware that Haddad was allegedly the head of the syndicate, where he “and his family members use a large number of mobile phones to ... supply cocaine”.
After listening to Haddad’s phone calls between July and December, police allege he was “responsible for the supply of cocaine on thousands of occasions”, the fact sheet said.
A police witness allegedly bought 148g cocaine from Haddad over six sales between July and August at Putney and other locations.
But police allege Haddad supplied “no less than 565g of cocaine”, the documents said.
Police alleged Haddad was laundering his drug money through a second-hand car dealership, which he bought a share of in October.
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Another of those in front of the court on Saturday as a result of the year-long investigation was a youth, who can not be named because he is under 18, who allegedly negotiated cocaine sales over the phone.
One of the deals on August 16 was arranged when the youth received a text that said: “He (sic) bro, what prices could you give me for 2 bags?”, the documents said.
He faced Parramatta Children’s Court on five drug related charges and did not apply for bail. He is due to reappear on Monday.
Another man facing court was Mohamad Sawan, 19, from Ermington, who was allegedly a delivery driver.
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Sawan is facing five drug supply charges, did not apply for bail on Saturday, and will reappear in Central Local Court on Wednesday.
Another, Haris Siddiqui, also did not apply for bail yesterday on three drug related charges and is due to reappear at Central Local Court on January 21.
Haddad and Le Brocq will appear in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.