Rafat Alameddine starts new business in week after police raids

More than a dozen associates of the Alameddine crime gang were arrested in a police crackdown a week ago — but the gang’s alleged head honcho has been busy starting up a new business venture.

The alleged kingpin of the Alameddine crime family is branching away from his former gig and moving into renovations.

Rafat Alameddine created a new business, Sydney Lavish Renovations, last Friday just days after the head of NSW Police claimed to have “cut the head off the snake” of his crime family.

His new business follows other ventures by the 31-year-old including MSG Group (NSW) Pty Ltd, AAA Top Cut Tree Lopping and Australian Investment Managers.

Alameddine, who police have alleged in court is the head of his family’s crime business, lodged the new business paperwork on Friday.

On Tuesday, NSW Police arrested 18 alleged members of the Alameddine clan in a number of dawn raids. Rafat Alameddine was not arrested or charged during the raids.

Rafat Alameddine. Picture: Adam Yip

At the time NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb declared the arrests had “cut the head off the snake”.

“Today we smashed an organised criminal network. The entire syndicate has been arrested, including high ranking members of that syndicate,” Ms Webb said at the time.

“I’m confident that we’ve cut the head off the snake.

“The recent gang related violence that has been plaguing Sydney stems directly from the battle for control of these drug markets and the profits.”