Mum, dad and son charged over alleged drug syndicate
A mother, father and son are in custody charged over their alleged involvement in a cocaine syndicate. A taxi driver has also been charged after allegedly carrying out hundreds of cocaine deals — and pocketing $50 each time.
NSW
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A taxi driver has been charged after allegedly carrying out hundreds of cocaine deals — and pocketing $50 each time — under the orders of a drug syndicate.
A mother, father and their son are also in custody following sweeping drug raids.
Just after 4pm on Friday, Region Enforcement Squad officers burst through the front door of a family home on Salvia Ave in Bankstown and arrested the syndicate’s alleged supplier, Omar Fawaz Mahfouz.
It will be alleged 27-year-old Omar’s operation was a family affair with his mother, Gladiss Mahfouz, 52, and father Fawaz Mahfouz, 53, also involved in the business.
Mr and Mrs Mahfouz are accused of running the business, including the banking, while their son took orders from buyers via a mobile number.
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According to a police statement of facts, Omar used 57-year-old taxi driver Abdul Arnout to deliver the drugs in his taxi to various buyers around Sydney.
The buyers would hop in the cab, exchange cash, collect the drugs and jump out after a drive around the block. Police allege Arnout collected the drugs in a coffee cup and took a $50 cut from each deal.
He is accused of delivering hundreds of deals since the investigation, led by Bankstown detectives, started in December.
Arnout was arrested on Friday when police pulled over his taxi on Bonds Rd at Roselands and found cocaine inside. He was charged with ongoing drug supply and proceeds of crime offences.
Arnout’s solicitor Ahmed Dib told Pattamatta Court a bail application would be made at on April 3.
Detectives carried out four raids on Friday, including at a luxury apartment in Rhodes, Campsie and Bass Hill.
The Mahfouz family members were all charged with drug supply, proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group charges.
Defence lawyer Abigail Bannister was prepared to make bail applications for Mr and Mrs Mahfouz yesterday but, due to Parramatta Bail Court’s case load, had to adjourn the matters.
She said the allegation of Mrs and Mr Mahfouz’s involvement was limited.
“(Mrs Mahfouz) is a full-time carer for her 80-year-old father who is unwell enough that she literally feeds him,” Ms Bannister said.
The family’s cases were adjourned to Burwood Local Court on Monday.
Arnout, whose daughter was in court to support him, did not apply for bail and the case was adjourned to Bankstown Local Court on April 3.
Bankstown crime manager Detective Inspector Glen Fitzgerald said it would be alleged that the drug syndicate was “well organised and meticulously planned”.
“There was a lot of hard work going into the investigation by the detectives,” he said.
Originally published as Mum, dad and son charged over alleged drug syndicate
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