Operation Eclipse: Tobacco trade accused brothers Ahmed, Sajad and Ali Al-Mansoury in heated scenes outside court with detectives
Three brothers charged in the state’s anti-tobacco trade operation have left court and collided with the detectives who arrested them last year. See the interaction. Video: 7NEWS.
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A trio of brothers who were arrested as part of a statewide investigation into the illegal tobacco wars have been involved in a heated confrontation with police detectives outside court.
In the minutes before their scheduled court hearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, brothers Ahmed, Sajad and Ali Al-Mansoury confronted the detectives who arrested them last year.
Ahmed was heard yelling across the foyer of the court building towards some of the detectives, with his brothers also offering their opinions.
“Don’t say hello to me. Don’t talk to me,” Ahmed was heard saying.
The confrontation continued when the trio left the building, heard yelling expletives at police on the street outside the courthouse.
“You are cowards,” one yelled.
“You smashed my doors, you piece of s***.”
In footage of the incident, taken by 7NEWS, detectives are seen trying to defuse the verbal altercation.
The trio, who are on strict home detention bail, have each been charged with several counts of money laundering, with Ahmed also charged with unlawful possession and possessing prescription drugs, after investigations into the illegal tobacco trade across South Australia.
Police allege the offences relate to the ongoing conflict associated with the illicit tobacco sales in SA and the standover and intimidation tactics allegedly being used by these syndicates.
They were arrested alongside two other men - Haydarah Kadhem and Ayoub Hasan Ali - in October last year after an alleged incident in a restaurant premises in the southern suburbs.
The charges against Mr Kadhem were dropped at a later hearing.
During their hearing on Thursday, prosecutors asked magistrate Simon Smart to allow 12 weeks before the next occasion, when the brothers are expected to answer their charges.
They said the charges against each man had been determined by the DPP, and a date was set in August for all three men to officially answer the allegations.
Operation Eclipse is a special task force targeting crime syndicates vying for the “lion’s share” of the illicit tobacco market.
Since July last year, authorities have raided nearly 400 premises in their pursuit of the illegal tobacco trade.
Through joint efforts, the taskforce has made 33 arrests and searched 47 residential properties, 122 business premises and 14 storage facilities.
They have also seized more than $16.2m worth of illicit tobacco and $2.1m in cash.
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Originally published as Operation Eclipse: Tobacco trade accused brothers Ahmed, Sajad and Ali Al-Mansoury in heated scenes outside court with detectives
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