Suspected crime boss Rafat Alameddine and associate John Bayssari wanted for murder conspiracy

One of Sydney’s most notorious crime figures, along with an associate, is currently being sought by NSW Police for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to murder rival gangster.

One of Sydney’s most notorious crime figures, along with an associate, is currently being sought by NSW Police for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to murder rival gangster Ibrahem Hamze.

Rafat Alameddine, allegedly the head of the Alameddine organised crime network, and John Bayssari are now wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant for conspiracy to murder, with the pair known to be living offshore. 

In November 2019, Criminal Groups Squad officers launched Strike Force Newnham to investigate members and associates of two prominent Organized Crime Networks and their suspected criminal activities across Sydney.

During the investigation, detectives say they uncovered evidence that one of the criminal networks was conspiring to murder a rival gang member – a then 24-year-old Ibrahem Hamze.

Ibrahem Hamze (right) leaving Central Local Court with his lawyer Fadi Abbas in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Following an investigation into a conspiracy to commit murder, Strike Force detectives have obtained arrest warrants for Alameddine and Bayssari, both 33, who are believed to have fled to Lebanon. 

Rafat, the alleged leader of the Alameddine OCN has been overseas since late-2022 when he was found not guilty of several matters in the NSW District Court.

NSW Police have issued an arrest warrant for crime kingpin Rafat Alameddine.

They are also hunting for alleged Alameddine crime clan member John Ray Bayssari has also left Australia.

Bayssari has regularly been by the sides of his high-profile friends in recent years and was even allegedly on the run with fellow Alameddine associates Masood Zakaria and Ali Younes as NSW Police hunted them in 2021. 

He has again appeared in photos this year next to Alameddine figures including Rafat, Younes and others in Lebanon.

Rafat Alameddine pictured on left with kid on his shoulder, with Ali "Ay Huncho" Younes, black hoodie holding phone, and John Ray Bayssari, black T-shirt, black cap in Lebanon, with relatives from his family's homeland.

The men are described as being of Mediterranean / Middle Eastern appearance, 180cm – 190cm tall, of solid build with dark brown hair and possible facial hair.

Anyone who sights either man or has any information relating to their whereabouts, is urged not to approach them but call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

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