James Bahmad: Sydney cocaine supplier sentenced after caught with 98kg of coke

A court has heard the tragic tale of a devoted Sydney dad caught up in efforts to import almost 100kg of cocaine secreted in a generator after a lifetime of trauma and tumult.

The tragic tale of a devoted Sydney father of six caught importing almost 100kg of cocaine secreted in a generator has taken yet another grave turn as he was sentenced to years in prison for his crimes.

James Bahmad, 41, pleaded guilty to possessing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs – namely, 98kg of cocaine – and possessing a firearm at Downing Centre District Court, where Judge Dina Yehia sentenced him to at least five and a half years’ jail.

The court heard the whopping amount of cocaine was discovered in a generator being shipped from Victoria to Croydon Park in Sydney’s inner west.

Judge Yehia described Bahmad’s role as an “intermediary” between an authority figure codenamed “Machiavelli” and his co-offenders Ray Farah and Elias Boustani.

“It is not correct to say that he directed the two co-offenders, his role is probably to be seen as conveying instructions given to him by others to Farah and Boustani,” Judge Yehia said.

“The offender, Farah and Boustani were to receive the consignment, open it and make it available to other individuals or groups – he conveyed instructions but was not the instigator or architect of those instructions.”

James Bahmad at the Downing Centre District Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The day he was arrested, Bahmad was travelling in convoy with Farah, who was driving a van filled with 60 blocks of cocaine.

“I’m satisfied he participated expecting to receive substantial financial reward,” Judge Yehia said.

Farah and Boustani have already been sentenced for their roles in the enterprise, for which they received maximum jail terms of eight years and six months and nine years respectively.

Bahmad was sentenced to a maximum of 11 years and eight months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of five and a half years expiring on October 15 2027.

Outwardly, James Bahmad was an effusive, cheerful man – neatly groomed and well dressed – but in a report to the court a psychologist described this as an attempt to mask his fragility and past trauma with a “superficial and projected grandiosity”.

The court heard distressing details of Bahmad’s traumatic childhood, marred by addiction, domestic violence, abuse, and war.

Bahmad will be behind bars for at least five years and six months. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The court heard Bahmad’s parents were both heavily addicted to heroin, and his mother suffered from chronic treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

When he was just five years old, Bahmad’s parents relocated to Lebanon in efforts to kick their drug habits – but their drug use continued and Bahmad was frequently left in his aunt’s care for extended periods.

The court was told how Bahmad once woke with his head buzzing, covered in dust and unable to see or hear – only to discover his neighbour’s home had been blown up during Lebanon’s civil war.

His father, brother and mother were later abducted and held hostage for several months, and when his father and brother returned alone, he believed his mother was dead – though in fact she had been forced to be a drug courier for her son’s release.

The court heard Bahmad continued to experience domestic violence and instability upon his return to Australia and his mother later died by suicide in 2014.

Bahmad had experienced a deeply troubled childhood. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

He was addicted to cannabis by the tender age of 11, had once been shot above the eye in Lebanon before shooting his assailant back, and lived on the street for some time.

His paternal uncle, with whom he was close, was also murdered in the early 90s.

Despite the disturbance of his young life and substance abuse which persisted throughout his adulthood until his arrest, Bahmad had nevertheless fallen in love and married in 2005, which resulted in six children with his wife.

It was acknowledged Bahmad’s incarceration would pose a particular strain on his family.

“Unsurprisingly the responsibility of caring for six children will be a heavy burden on his wife,” Judge Yehia noted.

Judge Yehia also acknowledged it would be difficult for Bahmad to return to custody, following three years on bail after he was released from remand in 2019.

“I accept that this will be difficult for him to endure but given the seriousness of the offending there is no alternative,” Judge Yehia concluded.

Bahmad was also sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm, which the court heard he purchased during a drug bender believing there were people out to kill him.