NSW Police operation in Drummoyne targets senior figures in Haouchar crime network

Police have descended on a waterfront Sydney suburb after organised crime figures attempted to take over the area with their own personal bodyguards.

Police have descended on a waterfront Sydney suburb after organised crime figures attempted to take over the area with their own personal bodyguards.

In a major show of high visibility policing, more than 50 armed officers from the Raptor Squad, Polair, Water Police, Dog Squad, Strikeforce Talon and officers from Burwood Local Command “locked down’’ parts of Drummoyne on Thursday night.

Police carried out firearm prohibition compliance checks on Omar Haouchar and Ayman Manly, who live in a nearby townhouse complex.

Both are considered to be senior figures in the Haouchar crime network.

Omar Haouchar in 2023.

Ayman Manly in 2023.

Only Omar Haouchar was home, and was subject to a compliance check.

“We have had reports of people walking their dogs in the area feeling intimidated by what is obviously security for these crime figures asking them questions about what they are doing” said Raptor boss Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis.

Police descended on the waterfront suburb on Thursday evening. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The operation involving approximately 50 officers from Raptor Squad, State Intelligence Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol, Aviation Command, Marine Area Command, and the Dog Squad. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The operation saw an area of Drummoyne from Queen Victoria St to Thornley St and from the waters edge to Ferry Lane swamped by police, door knocking and searching the area for potentially hidden weapons.

“There is intelligence which suggests these guys may have weapons or have them nearby. This operation is to let them know we won’t tolerate them harassing people, which their presence can do to normal citizens,’’ he said.

Police said they would continue to patrol the area. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police descended on the waterfront suburb on Thursday evening. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Police also informed locals that they will continue to patrol the area and return to the suburb if needed.

Similar operations have been carried out elsewhere in Sydney, particularly in the southwest near the homes of senior members of the Alamaddine and Hamze families.

A member of the NSW Police Dog Squad. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The operation was designed to disrupt organised criminal networks. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In some cases organised crime figures had installed their own security cameras on public structures which have had to be torn down.

“These criminals have a lot of disposable cash from their drug dealing and other illegal activities that they are now moving into and purchasing expensive real estate... but we will go wherever they are,’’ Det Supt Koutsoufis said.

Omar Haoucher is the brother of Bilal, considered one of Australia’s most wanted men who left Sydney after an arrest warrant on kidnapping charges was issued against him.

After fleeing the country Bilal ran the crime network from Lebanon where he is in jail after NSW police passed on information about his criminal activities to local authorities resulting in his arrest.

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