PISTOL PACKING MAMMA
Loaded glock found with John Ibrahim ‘s girlfriend as cops crack criminal code
THE unravelling of Australia’s most notorious family began with a secret meeting at the Sheraton on the Park in November last year.
It was here real estate agent Ryan Watsford met with alleged organised crime king pin Michael Ibrahim, his cousin Fares Derbas and another man to discuss plans to import illegal cigarettes, police will allege claim.
Syndicate members met at dozens of times at various locations across Sydney – from Intercontinental at Double Bay to a Strathfield 7/11 Service Station to discuss and organise the importation of tobacco and ecstasy in shipping containers.
Little did they realise police knew their Blackberry identities and were tracking their every move with listening devices, surveillance teams and tracking devices. After years of a sophisticated, covert operation, police finally swooped on the group arresting more than 20 people in a series of dramatic raids across Sydney and Dubai on Monday.
Those arrested included the two brothers of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim – Fadi and Michael – and underworld figures Steven Elmir, Hakan Arif and Mustapha Dib – all who were taken into custody by local authorities and the Australian Federal Police in Dubai.
Yesterday John’s model girlfriend and nightclub owner Sarah Budge was released from custody after she was allegedly found with a loaded Glock.
His son Daniel was also granted bail after being accused of handling a suit case and tool bag filled with $2.25 million cash which was payment for 900,000 packets of illegal cigarettes.
John Ibrahim’s cousin Farez Derbas – who police will allege helped to organise and transport illegal cigarettes – was not so lucky with a Sydney magistrate refusing him bail in light of what she believed was a “strong Crown case”.
But John, who has not been charged with anything, has not been seen or heard from since police raided his luxurious Dover Heights mansion on Monday.
Following the dismantling of the alleged syndicate, the Bulletin can reveal police have accused Michael Ibrahim of being a common link between two syndicates – one involving his own family and a second headed by Steven Elmir.
It can also be revealed that police will claim Michael Ibrahim allegedly oversaw the following four deals between November 15 2016 and May 26, 2017.
Police will allege the plan to import drugs thwarted when law enforcement in the Netherlands intercepted the MDMA packed in 34 cardboard boxes. But the 900,000 packets of cigarettes arrived in Australia from Dubai in a shipping container.
Several other men – including Watson and Nomads bikie Sleiman Tajjour – are expected to face court today.