Alleged Sydney director of drug syndicate ‘The Commission’ refused bail in court

Jibreel Bakir was among six people arrested in September 2024 after sweeping raids targeting alleged members of the biggest cocaine gang in Sydney: “The Commission”.

A young Sydney father who police claim has been unemployed for five years allegedly put a down payment on a $1.2m property in Dubai in the weeks before he was charged with masterminding a $1.8 billion cocaine empire, a court has heard.

Jibreel Bakir, 25, was among six people arrested in September 2024 following sweeping raids targeting alleged members of the biggest cocaine gang in Sydney, who call themselves ‘The Commission’.

Police allege the group controlled the distribution and price of drugs on the city’s streets and was responsible for selling a staggering 1.2 tonnes of cocaine in just four months.

Police allege Bakir is the onshore mastermind behind the venture, which allegedly included his brother Laith Bakir, and associates Akrom Hamzy, Houssam Khoder Agha, Khalid Mohamed and Duy Phong Nguyen.

Bakir was charged with multiple counts of large commercial drug supply and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime — the latter over his alleged handling of $16 million associated with the sale of the drugs.

NSW Police raided a home in Glenfield where they arrested alleged crime figure Akron Hamzy.

He was also charged with a single count of directing a criminal group and possessing an encrypted phone to commit serious criminal activity.

He is yet to enter pleas.

Bakir was remanded in custody after his arrest but sought bail in the NSW Supreme Court this week.

In an affidavit to the court, Bakir’s wife said her husband previously did formwork and was employed at a car wrecking yard but in recent years had made his money buying and selling cars.

She said he was the sole income earner in the family and needed to be at liberty to work and provide for her and their young baby.

However, police claim Bakir had been unemployed for five years prior to his arrest and had allegedly derived the majority, if not all his income from illicit activity – enough, they claim, to put a 20 per cent down payment on a $1.2m property in Dubai.

The home in Glenfield was one of many seizures across Sydney as part of Operation Barograph.

Police search a vehicle as part of sweeping raids.

Police allege Bakir initiated the purchase of the property following the arrest of one of his co-accused in July.

According to a contract of sale tendered to the court, Bakir signed an agreement to deposit 20 per cent of the property’s asking price in August last year, but was arrested before he could make the second payment of 10 per cent in December.

Prosecutors argued Bakir’s overseas affiliations, which also included connections in Jordan, where he spent time as a teenager, made him a flight risk.

However, Bakir’s legal team said he would agree to abide by strict bail conditions and that members of his extended family had agreed to lodge a $2 million surety by way of property deeds to secure his release.

They told the court Bakir had a long-standing cocaine habit and would enrol in a 24-week outpatient rehabilitation course if bailed.

The court heard Bakir would defend the charges at trial, with his lawyers claiming the crown case was weak because it rested solely on convincing a jury that he was the person behind the drug-related messages on the encrypted app Threema.

But Justice Robertson Wright found there was some strength to the case, noting police had recovered data from a phone in Bakir’s possession when he was arrested.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb and Detective Superintendent Peter Faux Commander of Organised Crime Squad speak to the media after the raids. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“Some data … was recovered from the phone and it allegedly records very significant supplies of cocaine and other daily activities of the syndicate,” he said.

“It’s alleged that the applicant instructed other co-accused on the details of various instances of drug supply by that encrypted communication, as well as directing others as to the distribution of drugs amongst the group as well as the disposition of cash obtained as a result of the sale or supply of those drugs.

“It is said that the [total] supplies involved … more than a tonne of cocaine and tens of millions of dollars.”

Justice Wright found Bakir had not shown cause why his ongoing detention was not justified and refused bail.

Laith Bakir, Hamzy, Agha, Mohamed and Nguyen have also been charged with drug supply, proceeds of crime and criminal group charges.

They are all yet to enter pleas and their cases remain before the court.