A notorious gang rapist has been charged with a string of drug offences after a raid on a home in Sydney’s southwest,with police alleging he “directed” the operation.
Mohammed Skaf, 42, was arrested at a home on Juno Parade, Greenacre at about 11.30pm on Wednesday.
Footage of his dramatic arrest was released by police on Thursday, showing Mr Skaf being hauled out of the house and sat on the edge of the footpath, breathing heavily as his hands were cuffed behind his back.
Dressed in a black Calvin Klein jumper, jacket and tracksuit pants, he was pinned to the ground by officers before being marched to a police vehicle.
Officers investigating an alleged large-scale supply of cocaine and other illicit substances in Sydney’s southwest searched the 42-year-old’s home and a nearby park, where they allegedly found $25,000 cash and about 140g of cocaine.
Detective Chief Inspector Jeffrey Walsh said the investigation into the drug syndicate began in March, with officers finding five ounces of cocaine in a park before searching the Greenacre property.
Images from the search showed officers revealing the cocaine hidden beneath a witches hat next to a tree.
Police then searched a home in Greenacre.
“…Officers allegedly located and seized approximately $220,000 cash, approximately 68g of cocaine, approximately 10g of MDMA, a vehicle, and several mobile phones,” a police statement read.
Skaf has been charged with 24 offences.
They include supply prohibited drug over and or equal to large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in court on Thursday.
Mr Skaf did not apply for bail when he appeared in Bankstown Local Court on Thursday, however his solicitor flagged he would make a release application on another occasion. Inspector Walsh said the amount of money found at the Greenacre home was “substantial”.
“The $200,000 cash we located in one of the houses in Greenacre is obviously quite substantial, and that money we’re going to be alleging as proceeds of crime,” he said.
He said police believed Mr Skaf allegedly “directed everybody” as leader of the drug syndicate.
“He (allegedly) directed the runners, which I like to call them …(and) the other two, the other male and female (allegedly) operated all throughout southwest Sydney,” he said.
Inspector Walsh alleged the drug syndicate was “well-entrenched in organised crime”, but said police were working to keep the community safe.
“We know what’s going on in our community,” he said.
“We want to make sure we do our absolute best to try and dismantle these groups and stop what’s happening.”
Skaf was one of three people arrested and charged during the raid.
He was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug less than and or equal small quantity, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
They also searched a unit in Newington, where Winter Egitmeglu, 54, was arrested.
“The woman was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug less than and or equal small quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity,” police said.
They were both refused bail and are due to appear at court on Thursday.
Skaf was released from prison in 2021 after serving nearly 21 years behind bars.
He was convicted of gang raping at least six schoolgirls across Sydney’s southwest with his brother in 2000 when he was 17.
Skaf was one of nine men convicted over the gang rapes, which took place in public toilets and parks.
He and at least 14 others sexually assaulted one girl several times over a six-hour period at a toilet block before driving her around in a car and dumping her at a train station.
During the sentencing, Judge Michael Finnane said the rapes were “worse than murder” and described the events as something “you hear about or read about only in the context of wartime atrocities”.
Skaf became eligible for parole in 2018, but his requests were repeatedly knocked back.
He was released from prison on parole in October 2021 after the State Parole Authority said his attitude had improved and recommended his release.
The SPA said it had “no authority” to keep Skaf in prison beyond his sentence, and his release must be supervised for 23 months.
“This is the only opportunity to supervise a safe transition into the community in the small window of time that we have left,” SPA chairman David Frearson said at the time.
“Release without structure or supervision makes little sense for community protection.”
His parole order expired in January 2024.
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