Alameddine crew member Masood Zakaria could be using short-term rentals across Newcastle and Central Coast
Detectives suspect wanted man Masood Zakaria and his crew could be hiding in Newcastle and on the Central Coast.
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Police hunting senior Alameddine gang member Masood Zakaria suspect he and his crew could be using short-term accommodation across Newcastle and the Central Coast in a bid to stay ahead of law enforcement.
Criminal gangs squad detectives announced last week that they were seeking Zakaria, 26, on arrest warrants over an alleged murder conspiracy and directing organised crime activity across Sydney’s south-west.
The Daily Telegraph revealed that police sources claimed Zakaria, a former Comanchero bikie, had been instrumental in running the operations of the Alameddine crime clan.
The warrants for Zakaria were issued on the same day NSW Police cracked down on the Alameddines last week, raiding 13 properties and arresting three people.
But Zakaria has remained at large, with police publicly stating that they believed he was “actively evading police and may attempt to flee the country’’.
“I think they are feeling the pressure and have taken flight,’’ Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said last week.
On Monday, the criminal gangs squad reissued their alert on Zakaria being wanted on “several organised crime-related offences, including conspiracy to murder”.
“Investigators suspect Masood Zakaria may be limiting his movements to between Sydney and the Newcastle and Central Coast areas,’’ police said in a statement.
It later read: “It is believed he is in the company of a number of males of either Mediterranean/Middle Eastern or Pacific Islander/Maori appearance.
“There is a possibility Masood Zakaria and his associates are using short-stay rental accommodation in order to lay low and evade police.’’
Masood Zakaria is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, about 180cm tall, obese build, with brown eyes, black hair and a beard.
Police said anyone who sees Zakaria, or has information on his whereabouts, was urged not to approach him and call Triple-0 immediately.
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