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Two alleged Alameddine members charged over $250k prison drug ring – which allegedly involved a 75-year-old grandmother

Two alleged members of the Alameddines, including one who held the role of “bodyguard”, have been charged over a prison drug ring.

Two suspected members of the Alameddine crime clan, including one who was “bodyguard” to the group’s boss, have been arrested for their role in allegedly running a drug ring throughout NSW prisons.

Ali Elmoubayed was formerly the bodyguard to Rafat Alameddine, the alleged leader of the crime group of the same name, but is facing a series of charges over his alleged involvement in overseeing the gang’s drug operations.

Police allege one of those operations included Elmoubayed supplying drugs to grandmother Kathleen Woods, 75, who then used a further two people – Robert Kenney and Kerrie-Anne Manning – to smuggle buprenorphine, or bupe strips, into the jail when they went to visit Kenney’s son, Ryan.

Alameddine crime clan member Ali Elmoubayed (pictured in 2023) has been charged over his alleged role in a prison drug syndicate. Picture: Jeremy Piper
Alameddine crime clan member Ali Elmoubayed (pictured in 2023) has been charged over his alleged role in a prison drug syndicate. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Elmoubayed was visited by Criminal Groups Squad detectives on Monday and charged with supplying a small quantity of prohibited drugs, and participating in a criminal group.

Police allege that the total drugs supplied into NSW Prisons for the Alameddine crime clan totalled close to $250,000.

Mahdy Zaineddine, 23, was also visited by detectives and charged with supplying a small quantity of prohibited drugs and participating in a criminal group.

The alleged prison drug ring was uncovered by detectives operating under Strike Force Wessex, aimed at disrupting “dial-a-dealer” drug runs police say are overseen by the Alameddine clan.

Their investigations began in April 2023 and 11 months later in March 2024, saw 26 people arrested and charged.

Following those initial arrests, Strike Force Wessex detectives began to investigate the alleged prison drug ring for which they have now charged a total of eight people, following this week’s arrests.

Kathleen Woods 75, was arrested in August over her alleged role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook.
Kathleen Woods 75, was arrested in August over her alleged role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook.
Kerrie-Anne Manning 50, was arrested in August over her alleged role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook.
Kerrie-Anne Manning 50, was arrested in August over her alleged role in the syndicate. Picture: Facebook.

Elmoubayed and Zaineddine faced Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday, where they were refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday.

Grandmother Woods was arrested last month in South Penrith and charged with supplying a small quantity of prohibited drugs.

Her son Chad was arrested the next day when he handed himself into Parramatta Police Station and was also charged with participating in a criminal group and supplying prohibited drugs.

That same week Kenney and Manning were arrested after a police raid in Orange, NSW, and charged with supplying prohibited drugs of a small quantity.

A week later, Kenney’s son Ryan was charged with contribute criminal activity and two counts of supply prohibited drug. All remain before the courts.

Originally published as Two alleged Alameddine members charged over $250k prison drug ring – which allegedly involved a 75-year-old grandmother

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/nsw/two-alleged-alameddine-members-charged-over-250k-prison-drug-ring-which-allegedly-involved-a-75yearold-grandmother/news-story/9e82b1ea87a2fa177e309ea80cb3eb15