Two arrests in Mejid Hamzy execution case during raids

The shooting of a high-profile underworld figure that sparked a gang war was allegedly ordered because major international criminals suspected the victim had stolen a drug shipment.

Mejid Hamzy was murdered near his Condell Park. Picture: Facebook

The shooting of a high-profile underworld figure that sparked a gang war between two rival crime families in Sydney was allegedly ordered because major international criminals suspected the victim had stolen a 400 kilogram shipment of cocaine.

Christopher O’Brien, 30, and Bryce Mark Williams, 34, were arrested in dawn raids on Thursday morning, the completion of almost two years of investigations by NSW Police into the assassination of crime kingpin Mejid Hamzy on October 19, 2020.

Police will allege it was O’Brien and Williams who gunned Hamzy down as he walked out the front of his home at Condell Park.

His alleged murder led to the protracted tit-for-tat public place shootings involving the Hamzy clan and the rival Alameddines that has seen six subsequent killings, the most recent of them Hamzy’s brother Ghassan Amoun in January.

Police made new arrests over Mejid Hamzy’s murder in East Hills and Panania on Thursday. Picture: NSW Police

Charges will be laid against two men, with a third charged with drug supply. Picture: NSW Police

Having long vowed to bring those involved to justice, Acting Assistant Commissioner Darren Bennett said the arrests of O’Brien and Williams was a major breakthrough.

“We’re very happy with the results today,” Act Asst Comm Bennett said.

“We’re very grateful to our partner agencies and the NSW Crime Commission... (in) bringing this matter to a conclusion and these two men will appear before court today charged with murder.”

Detectives had long sought to arrest a “Mr Blonde” whose distinctive light coloured hair was allegedly seen on CCTV footage when the hood of the dark jumper he had hoped would conceal his identity slipped briefly as he ran from through Condell Park after the crime.

Police allege that man was Williams.

Mejid Hamzy. Picture: Facebook

Mejid Hamzy.

Grant Taylor, the head of the Criminal Groups Squad which has led the investigation into Hamzy‘s murder, said police allege the assassination was linked to not only the Alameddine clan but also major international crime figures.

The Alameddines are known to have tight links with the Commanchero bikie gang — Australia’s drug import kingpins.

Det Supt Taylor said it would be alleged Hamzy’s shooting had been ordered because international crime figures were of the opinion he was involved in the taking a major importation of cocaine owned by the Commanchero.

“What I’ll say is that the murder of Mejid Hamzy we believe is not related to a family feud,” he claimed.

Detectives seized clothing and electronics

while executing a search warrant at a Bankstown townhouse.

“However it is related to organised crime where those families are involved.

“(We will allege) his murder was sanctioned at the highest level of organised crime... (and) the motivation for this murder... relates to the theft of the large importation of narcotics that entered this county.”

A third man, Morris Edward Higham, was also arrested and charged with several drug supply charges, but it is not alleged he was in any way involved in Hamzy’s killing.

Williams and O’Brien faced Bankstown Local Court on Thursday where they did not apply for bail.

The pair are both due to return to the same court on April 4.