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Updated ,first published
Notorious Sydney gang rapist Mohammed Skaf has been charged with 24 drug and other criminal offences after he was arrested at his Greenacre home on Wednesday night.
Skaf faces 22 counts of supplying prohibited drugs of varying quantities, knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime and directing activities of a criminal group after his Juno Parade home was raided by police investigating the supply of cocaine through Sydney’s south-west suburbs late on Wednesday night.
Police allegedly uncovered $220,000 in cash, about 68 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of MDMA, several mobile phones and a vehicle in the raid of Skaf’s home, while 140 grams of cocaine and $25,000 in cash were allegedly discovered after a search of Skaf and a park close to the residence.
Skaf was refused bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Thursday.
Two others allegedly involved in the drug supply, John Harvard (aka Ahmed Warwar) and Winter Egitmeglu, were also arrested on Wednesday night, and will face court on Thursday.
Harvard and Egitmeglu were charged after simultaneous raids of their respective Bankstown and Newington units just before midnight on Wednesday. Drugs and weapons, including a baton and ballistic vest, were allegedly seized at the addresses.
Skaf, then 17, his brother Bilal and at least 14 other men raped at least six schoolgirls over several weeks in 2000. They lured girls from locations such as shopping centres and train stations and then repeatedly forced them to perform sex acts on the men.
He was released from Long Bay prison in October 2021, after almost 21 years behind bars, under strict parole conditions allowing his release. His parole order applied until the expiration of his sentence in January 2024.
Skaf returned to the attention of police after Strike Force Earley 2 was established in March, tasked with investigating the large-scale supply of cocaine and other illicit drugs through south-west Sydney. The Green Valley Region Enforcement Squad is leading the investigation, and hasn’t ruled out making further arrests as they work to dismantle the alleged syndicate.
Detective Chief Inspector Jeffrey Walsh of the Green Valley Region Enforcement Squad is expected to share further details of Skaf’s arrest at a press conference on Thursday morning.
More to come
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.From our partners
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