Alameddine members Masood Zakaria and Ali Younes wanted by police
Alameddine member Masood Zakaria has become Australia’s most wanted man, while his mate and Sydney rapper Ali “Ay Huncho” Younes is also sought by police.
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Masood Zakaria has become Australia’s most wanted man, with the second most powerful member of the Alameddine crew sought by police over the alleged attempt to kill rival gang kingpin Ibrahem Hamze.
Zakaria’s best mate and rising Sydney rap star Ali “Ay Huncho” Younes is also wanted for his involvement in the ongoing Alameddine and Hamzy war, but not in relation to any killings.
Police sources said Zakaria has been instrumental in running the operations of the Alameddine crime clan, while Younes has been key in using his rap links to recruit young men of islander and African background.
Warrants for the pair were issued on the same day NSW Police cracked down on the Alameddines in their strongest manner yet, raiding 13 properties and arresting three people, as well as seizing guns, drugs and cash.
“I think they are feeling the pressure and have taken flight,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, State Crime Command, Stuart Smith said.
One of the addresses raided was the Greystanes home of Zakaria where his wife Ezzat Alameddine, 26, was arrested on fraud charges including four counts of using a false document to obtain financial advantage.
Senior police sources said many other Alameddine associates are planning to get out of town, even putting valuables in storage for fear of more raids.
Hamdi Alameddine, cousin of family boss Rafat and a senior member, is already believed to be in Victoria.
But the priority now for police is finding Zakaria, who sources say acts like the Chief Operations Officer of the Alameddines.
Police sources said dedicated encrypted devices have allowed members of the Alameddines to not only run their drug distribution racket, but plan kidnappings and murders.
It is understood it will be alleged Zakaria co-ordinated the ultimately failed attack on Hamze.
That attempt on the 27-year-old’s life came less than two months after his older brother Bilal, 34, had been gunned down in Sydney’s CBD.
Police inadvertently interrupted the attempt on Hamze’s life when they noticed two masked gunmen in a stolen Mercedes Benz on August 14.
The Daily Telegraph has obtained photos showing youth gangs posing in front of a stolen vehicle which was later used in the attempted murder of Hamze.
Police are understood to have been paying close attention to rapper Younes’ lyrics and music videos, with one showing him standing in front of a whiteboard featuring a flow chart that appears to list the keys to a drive-by shooting.
“Gloves, balaclava, gun, jerry can, car,” the whiteboard reads.
His songs include lyrics like: “I lost count if you talking ‘bout bodies”. There is however no suggestion that Younes has committed or been involved in the planning of any murder.
The charges police intend to lay against Younes are understood to relate to a boxing event from last month.
Younes’ solicitor Abdul Saddik said his client would hand himself in to police on Thursday and insisted he was not on the run.
Zakaria is a former Comanchero who was close to Tarek Zahed and Mark Buddle, with his links to the bikie gang aiding in the uniting of forces between them and the Alameddines.
In the wake of Buddle creating a “Commission” last year to control the drug importations into Australia, he allegedly linked up with the Alameddines to provide the distribution routes and muscle.
Police sources said it would be alleged that with his rap connections, Younes had recruited young men from islander and African backgrounds to join the Alameddine network.
Many of these individuals were members of the island street gang KVT.
Fellow rapper Nasa Nova, who features prominently on Younes’ recent EP “Gangster before Rap”, is alleged to be a senior member of KVT police sources said.
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