Moustafa Mariam arrested and $400k seized in gang raids

Moustafa Mariam, who was once convicted over the freak shooting death of a truck driver, was one of 11 people charged after a week-long operation targeting criminal gangs across Sydney.

A man once convicted over his involvement in the freak shooting death of a truck driver was one of 11 people charged during a week long operation targeting Sydney crime groups.

Moustafa Mariam was allegedly driving an Audi RS3 at 110km/h in a 70km/h zone through Greenacre on Saturday night when officers from NSW Police Strike Force Raptor pulled him over.

Mariam, 36, was charged with two driving offences, while also being hit with three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault, and a count each of intentionally choke person without consent and stalk/intimidate/intend fear or physical harm.

Moustafa Mariam, 36, was arrested at Greenacre on Saturday night after allegedly being caught doing 110km/h in a 70km/h zone. Source: NSW Police

NSW Police have charged 11 people as part of a week-long operation targeting organised criminal networks across Sydney. Picture: NSW Police

It is understood the assault charges relate to alleged domestic violence dating back to earlier this year.

Mariam has long been on the radar of NSW Police and his rap sheet includes a conviction for affray over the 2009 shooting death of truck driver Bob Knight.

Mr Knight was driving through Milperra when he was killed by a stray bullet fired between warring groups 120 metres away in a nearby KFC carpark. Mariam did not fire the gun, but drove several of those involved to the fast food outlet.

During the operation, officers seized drugs, ammunition and phones. Picture: NSW Police

Officers also seized prohibited drugs with a combined estimated potential street value of more than $200,000. Picture: NSW Police

Mariam was also jailed for four-and-a-half years for possessing a .45 automatic calibre self-loading pistol, which was found during a raid on a Parramatta apartment in January 2014.

A day after Mariam’s arrest, 26-year-old Thomas Tonga‘s home in Penrith was raided by police, where more than $120,000 cash, a black BMW, a money counter, drugs, ammunition and phones were seized.

He was charged with cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent, affray, supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), owner/occupier knowingly expose child to drugs, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

The 42 search warrants were carried out across the city, in suburbs including Penrith, Punchbowl, Brighton Le Sands, Greenacre and Cabramatta. Picture: NSW Police

He appeared at Penrith Local Court today, where he was refused bail to reappear at the same court on Friday 16 April 2021.

39-year-old Shawn Butler was arrested at his Brighton Le Sands home last Thursday after police seized prohibited drugs, watches, mobile phones and cash.

He was taken to Kogarah Police Station, where he was charged with drug supply, deal with property proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug.

He appeared at Sutherland Local Court the same day, where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Monday 26 April 2021.

NSW Police arrested a total of 11 people during the week long operation by Strike Force Raptor. Picture: NSW Police

On the same day, 29-year-old Moufid Awad was arrested at his Greenacre home after police found prescription medication, cocaine, cannabis, phones and $130,000 cash.

He was charged with drug supply and appeared at Bankstown Local Court the same day, where he was granted strict conditional bail to reappear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday 20 May 2021.

Two other men – aged 55 and 44 – were also arrested in Cabramatta on Sunday after police found cannabis plants and knuckle dusters.

Prohibited drugs were found stashed in a sink at one of the properties. Picture: NSW Police

The older man was charged with obstruct or hinder execution of search warrant, cultivate prohibited plant, possess prohibited drug, larceny and enhanced indoor cultivate cannabis for commercial purpose. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 25 May 2021.

The younger man was released pending further inquiries.

Among those arrested was Thomas Tonga, whose black BMW was seized by police. Picture: NSW Police

In total Strike Force Raptor executed 42 search warrants and Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) searches as part of the week-long operation that was carried out in suburbs including Penrith, Punchbowl, Brighton Le Sands, Greenacre and Cabramatta.

Officers seized more than $400,000 cash, vehicles, weapons, jewellery, and electronic devices, as well as weed and cocaine worth more than $200,000 as part of the raids.

Some of the more than $400,000 in cash seized during the raids. Picture: NSW Police

A weed plantation was also found. Picture: NSW Police

Raptor Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein, said the operation was aimed at suppressing criminal behaviour.

“Over the past week, police spoke with a number of individuals allegedly linked to groups involved in ongoing conflicts, while also executing FPO searches and search warrants, as well as high-visibility and road policing operations,” he said.

Police sources have told The Daily Telegraph that among those whose homes were raided were members of the Alameddine and Hamzy crime families.

The two families have been at war on the streets of southwest Sydney since mid-2020.

Those arrested during the raids are not believed to have close links to either family.