Sydney gangster Youssef ‘Gags’ Ahmad hid out in luxury CBD unit after brother was gunned down

One of Sydney’s underworld heavyweights was so scared for his life he moved out of the family stronghold into a high security building just metres from a police station in the heart of Sydney.

One of Sydney’s underworld heavyweights was so scared for his life he moved out of the family stronghold of Greenacre and into a high security building in the heart of the CBD.

In the weeks since his brother was gunned down in May Youssef “Gags” Ahmad was hiding out in a secure high-rise apartment just metres from a police station as talk raged of a bounty on his head.

A police source confirmed Ahmad, 34, had moved from western Sydney and into the city fearing he would be the next member of the infamous crime family to be targeted.

Ahmad has now been remanded in jail for allegedly breaching his parole last Friday in what has been seen as a move to keep him safe.

Prior to that he had been calling a “premium security” apartment home, fitted out with a pool and a gym overlooking a police station.

Youssef (centre) poses for a photo with his brothers Yasser and Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad. Picture: Supplied

It came with a concierge service as well as a sauna.

The father-of-two, who is divorced from his wife, lived in the spacious apartment alone.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal despite being labelled as “unemployed” on court papers Ahmad was able to secure the lease to the property that was last year listed for $850 a week.

“He chose somewhere up high for a reason,” a police source said.

Youssef “Gags” Ahmad was arrested in Sydney’s CBD on Friday and had his parole revoked. Picture: NSW Police

Ahmad has not been the only underworld figure to find a hideaway in the CBD, slain crime boss Bilal Hamze moved to Chinatown before he was gunned down last year.

His cousin Ghassan Amoun had also moved to a residential tower in Rhodes before he too died in a hail of bullets.

Ahmad’s move came after his brother Mahmoud “Brownie” Ahmad and his step-nephew Rami Iskander were gunned down within weeks of each other earlier this year.

The father-of-two, who is divorced from his wife, lived in the spacious apartment alone.

Ahmad was able to secure the lease to the property that was last year listed for $850 a week.

Sources said after that talk in the underworld suggested that Youssef Ahmad would be next.

Court documents state Ahmad, through his lawyer, consented to the detention order when it was made on Tuesday in the Downing Centre Local Court.

Drugs and Firearms Squad detectives arrested him in Sussex St last Friday and executed a warrant to revoke his parole.

He had been on parole after serving four years in jail over importing cocaine from the United States.

He will now have to serve out the rest of his sentence in jail, meaning Ahmad will be off the streets until June 2023.