Major underworld figure arrested under ‘powerful’ crime sting

November 15, 2023 journo

By Clare Sibthorpe

Updated November 15, 2023 — 11.55am

Overseas authorities have swooped on one of Australia’s most infamous underworld figures as part of a major bust of a powerful organised crime syndicate.

Bilal Haouchar, 37, was reportedly arrested in Lebanon as part of Strike Force Tromperie, a multinational operation under which NSW Police arrested 24 people, executed 37 warrants and seized 21 firearms.

Major crime figure Bilal Haouchar has reportedly been arrested in Lebanon.Credit: Facebook

Police claim the syndicate is linked to the movement of more than $1 billion through firearms, drug, tobacco and money laundering offences.

On Wednesday morning, the media was briefed on the operation by NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson, the State Crime Command’s Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald and the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux.

Asked if Haouchar was arrested under the operation, as originally reported by the Daily Telegraph, Hudson said he was still awaiting a response from the Australian Federal Police and Lebanese authorities. However, he added “we do believe a 37-year-old has been taken into custody in Lebanon, and we will work through those details”.

“We now have a warrant out for that 37-year-old’s arrest, which has been in existence since he left our shores in 2018. There were further warrants taken out for his arrest by Mr Faux’s team just recently,” he said, explaining there were no extradition treaties in place with Lebanon.

Hudson also confirmed another person involved in the operation was arrested at Sydney Airport trying to flee the country on Sunday.

Fitzgerald said this criminal enterprise, which started in Lebanon, was “potentially trying to step up and fill a void” of criminal opportunities which exists in NSW.

He claimed the group was mostly involved in the illicit firearm and drug trade, as well the black market of fancy cars and jewellery.

Across the past year, police say, a total of 25 firearms have been seized, as well as over 60 encrypted devices, nearly $1.5 million in cash, $2 million in cryptocurrency, a Lamborghini, over $3 million worth of luxury watches, equipment consistent with drug manufacture, and two tonnes of prohibited drugs and precursor drugs with a street value of over $130 million.

“We will allege that these individuals were heavily involved in the trade in illicit drugs, and violence flows from that. It’s not the only reason for violence – and many of the gangland shootings have found to be quite different motivations, however, there has been conflict association with this group,” Fitzgerald said.

While investigations continued and police expected to lay further charges in the coming months, Faux said the group had been “significantly dismantled, if not disrupted”.

NSW Police said Strike Force Tromperie was established by State Crime Command’s organised crime squad and the NSW Crime Commission, with help from the Australian Border Force.

Officers spent a year hunting the masterminds of the syndicate before swooping in on members across Sydney this week.

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