NSW Police arrest man with links to organised crime over alleged child grooming
A member of the Alameddine family with ties to organized crime has been charged with child grooming.
Allegedly, Mustapha Alameddine talked to a girl he thought was 14 years old on the internet for two months, sending her obscene photos and demanding them in return.
Instead he was talking to interstate police.
Interstate police passed the information to NSW Police’s Raptor Team; The team raided a house in Merrylands on Wednesday morning, seizing mobile phones and arresting Alameddine.
The 39-year-old was taken to Granville police station and charged with one count of using a device to groom a child for sex, one count of sending indecent material to a child, one count of using a carriage service to procure a child for sex and one count of possession of a prohibited drug.
Detective Inspector Brad Abdy confirmed Alameddine had links to people involved in organized crime.
“This activity could have been carried out just as easily when a member of the police force was assigned. [with] “He is an innocent 14-year-old boy who is not a police officer,” he said.
Alameddine, who works in security, will appear in the Bail Division Local Court on Wednesday.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Advisory Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Anyone affected by sexual, domestic or family violence can also access 24/7, free and confidential trauma specialist counseling through Full Stop Australia (1800 385 578).
Start your day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Amber Schultz is a crime and justice reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
