Adam Alameddine, Ibrahim Alameddine charged with cocaine supply

Queensland men Adam Alameddine and Ibrahim Alameddine, who deny any association with the Sydney Alameddine crime family, were allegedly found with a sizeable drug stash on a northern NSW highway and offered an interesting excuse when stopped by police.

Two men allegedly found in a rental van heaped with cocaine during a routine traffic stop in a small NSW coastal town told police they were “going fishing”, a court has heard.

Organised Crime Squad detectives charged Adam Alameddine and Ibrahim Alameddine on Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into the transportation of prohibited drugs between NSW and other states and territories.

Police will allege the routine traffic stop uncovered a 9kg haul of cocaine in the pair’s rental van.

“As part of inquiries, about 9.15am yesterday, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a white Fiat campervan on the Pacific Highway at Nabiac – about 25km northwest of Forster,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“During a search of the vehicle, police located three mobile phones – one suspected of being a dedicated encrypted criminal communication device – and a duffel bag containing nine 1kg blocks of cocaine in vacuum sealed bags.”

The pair were arrested and taken to Forster police station, where they were charged with large commercial prohibited drug supply.

“Police will allege in court the men had rented the van in Brisbane the day prior, with the intention to travel to Sydney, pick up the drugs and return to Brisbane,” the statement continued.

Adam Alameddine, who was driving the van, enlisted Sydney solicitor Ahmed Dib to advance a bail application before Magistrate Brian van Zuylen at Forster Local Court on Thursday.

Mr Dib told the court Adam, who will contest the charges on the basis he was unaware of the drugs in the van, was born and bred in Queensland and that his family were all “law abiding citizens” with no connection to the Sydney organised crime network by the same name.

He further told the court Adam had no criminal history, but Mr van Zuylen noted he had a number of fine only matters including one as recent as September for obstructing police.

Mr Dib said this was not indicative of an intention to obstruct but more the actions of a “foolish child”, and warned he would be “exposed to severe criminality in a correctional centre” – leaving his family “worried sick”.

He proposed a number of bail conditions including a curfew and daily reporting to Bass Hill police station, noting his client did not have access to “copious amounts of money” to post bail.

Forster police station.

The court heard he worked as a process server in Sydney and there was some question as to where he was living at the time of the alleged offending.

Mr van Zuylen said police pulled the van over after witnessing it travelling closely to another vehicle, before officers smelt cannabis and a search allegedly uncovered scales and joint papers.

The black duffle bag which allegedly contained cocaine stamped with a lion logo was located underneath a pillow in a storage bench behind the driver’s seat.

The police prosecutor argued he should not be granted bail, telling the court the street value of the cocaine was “at the very least” $1.8m and that his record was “not unblemished” with a number of driving matters including the recent obstruct police.

He was denied bail and the matter adjourned to December 9 at Taree Local Court.

Ibrahim withdrew his planned application for bail after Adam’s was refused and his matter was also adjourned to the same date and location.

Investigations under Strike Force Dewhirst continue.

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