Australian Fugitive Bilal Haouchar Sentenced in Lebanon for Drug Crimes

Bilal Haouchar, a fugitive linked to the Sydney drug trade, has been sentenced to eight years in a Lebanese prison. Alongside Abdul Baghdadi, who received a seven-year sentence, their cases showcase the resolve of NSW Police in tackling international drug syndicates. This reflects an ongoing trend of Australian crime figures seeking refuge abroad, particularly in Lebanon.

Australian fugitive Bilal Haouchar, aged 39, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment in Lebanon on various drug charges, as confirmed by New South Wales (NSW) Police. Allegations suggest Haouchar has maintained control of the Sydney drug trade while living abroad. Concurrently, Abdul Baghdadi received a seven-year sentence in a Beirut court for similar crimes, following evidence provided by NSW Police to Lebanese authorities.

This event marks a significant movement in tackling international drug syndicates, as noted by NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein. He emphasized that authorities will not relent in their pursuit of individuals engaged in drug-related crimes. “We will continue to bring perpetrators to justice,” he asserted, aimed particularly at those who think they can evade law enforcement by fleeing abroad.

Haouchar fled Australia back in 2018 amidst kidnapping charges, yet he allegedly continues to supervise drug dealings from outside the country. Baghdadi, who had earlier circumvented local law enforcement after an assassination attempt, was arrested soon after arriving in Lebanon due to connections with Haouchar’s alleged criminal network.

NSW Police have remained vigilant, tracking Haouchar’s associates in Sydney and resulting in the arrest of 40 individuals during a comprehensive operation last year. This crackdown reportedly seized millions of dollars in cash, numerous firearms, and over a metric tonne of illicit drugs. Haouchar is among a list of Sydney crime figures who have sought refuge in Lebanon, exploiting the region’s perceived safety from Australian legal action.

In recent years, members from notable crime families, such as the Hamzy and Alameddine clans, have relocated to Lebanon. Among those is Rafat Alameddine, implicated in a plot to murder members of the rival Hamzy family. The trend highlights a troubling tactic where dual citizenship is leveraged by criminals to dodge extradition processes, signaling a growing concern for Australian law enforcement.

Interestingly, this latest sentencing of Haouchar and Baghdadi occurs against the backdrop of previous successes for the NSW Police, including the apprehension of the wanted drug importer Hakan Ayik in Türkiye last year. Such operations reinforce the commitment of authorities to tackle organized crime, even across international boundaries.

The imprisonment of Bilal Haouchar and Abdul Baghdadi in Lebanon underscores the relentless efforts of NSW Police to dismantle international drug syndicates. As these arrests demonstrate, individuals may think they can seek safety overseas, but law enforcement continues to pursue them vigorously. The involvement of various crime families relocating to the Middle East raises pressing concerns about the continued threats posed by organized crime, necessitating ongoing vigilance and collaboration among global law enforcement agencies.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au