DLASTHR

DLASTHR
Assyrian Kings

Gang members tattoo
Founded	2002
Founding location	Sydney Australia
Years active	2002 – Present[1]
Territory	Sydney Australia
Ethnicity	Assyrians
Criminal activities	Battery, Extortion, Arms trafficking, Drug trafficking, Robbery, Murder
Rivals	Bronx boys, True kings,Middle Eastern Gangs

DLASTHR (The Last Hour) is a Assyrian criminal organization that is active in the south western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The group is said to have originated from another gang, called the Assyrian Kings.^[2] The crime gang was formed by Raymon Youmaran who is now serving a 17-year sentence for the murder of Dimitri Debaz in 2002.^[3]

In 2014, police declared it had dissolved the gang after the high-profile arrests of their founding members, but it is believed the associates still at large are now feuding for top dog position. Gun violence is thought to be part of the gang's turf war over drug supply with its rival gang, The True Kings. The conflict between the two has led to a string of drive by shootings and firebombing in the south west areas.

Beginning of DLASTHR

Assyrian organized gangs started appearing in the 1990s with drugs distribution in Sydney's western suburbs. At the time they were known as the Assyrian Kings. In 1997 they committed one of the most horrific crimes in the killing of police officer David Carty, at the carpark of a Fairfield tavern. Five people were charged for the murder with the main offender receiving a sentence of 30 years.^[4]

The Assyrian Kings fell apart after Constable David Carty’s murder, but it was revived by Raphael Joseph and Raymon Youmaran and a number of like-minded criminals in 2000s as DLASTHR.

In December 2002 Dimitri Debaz was shot and killed at a strip club in the suburb of Sefton. Raymon Youmaran became the primary suspect for police and disappeared soon after as well as another suspect Raphael Joseph who went by the nickname of "Hasoni". The NSW Policsubmission described how Joseph Youmaran and three other men arrived at the Sefton Hotel where Debaz was celebrating his brother Aleck's birthday with about 15 to 20 friends.^[5]

Within a matter of seconds after entering the hotel a fight between Joseph his co-offenders Dimitri and Aleck Debaz had erupted. Police alleged that the pub's CCTV footage showed Joseph and three accomplices running to their car with Joseph and Youmaran each grabbing a 9mm handgun before fatally shooting Debaz who was standing near the hotel's door. Three shots were fired execution style into the victim's back before the gunmen fled.

Sandro Mirad, the driver of Youmaran and Josephs get away car was charged and pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to Debaz's murder. Mirad received a two and a half year sentence with one and a half year non custodial sentence.^[6]

Youmaran was wanted by poilice as he went on hiding, there were a number of retaliation attempts on people associated with Youmaran for a number of years. while in hiding Youmaran was involved in the drug distribution in South Western suburbs of Sydney, and soon became New south wales Most wanted man.

DLASTHR became known in Sydney and embarked on a reign of terror being involved in a number of murders and public shootings as they ruthlessly established themselves as a major drug dealing and distribution syndicate in Sydney.^[7]

2005

The Rocks double murder

On 16, April 2005 at approximately 1:10am Naser Ghaderi and Keyvan Ghajaloo were killed in a drive-by shooting on Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney. Reports state that as Ghaderi and Ghajaloo were standing by a car,a BMW and a Volkswagen stopped next to them. The driver of the BMW was reported to have said, "Are you the Persians from the party?" Following this conversation a hail of bullets from two guns were fired killing Ghaderi and Ghajaloo. Reports also state this was payback from an altercation Ghaderi had two weeks prior at a Persian event.^[8]

During the coroner’s inquest into the murders, Ahmed Alfadly a non Assyrian member of DLASTHR, was named as the opponent Ghaderi had during the altercation at the Persian event 2 weeks prior. Raymon Youmaran, and Danny Hirmiz, were also identified as possible participants in the killings. Alfadly left Australia for Kuwait five days after the shootings and has never returned. No one has been charged for the shootings.^[9]

Babylon cafe manslaughter

In November 2005 the Babylon Cafe in Fairfield, New South Wales was sprayed with bullets, killing bystander Raymond Khananyah and wounding three others. Three gunmen in balaclavas, armed with semi-automatic pistols got out of a black car and fired up to 17 shots into the cafe. It was believed the incident was a case of mistaken identity. The car in the shooting was found later and arrests were made but Youmaran still remained at large. In 2011 a coroner's inquest into the Babylon Cafe shooting revealed in the days before the murder there was a previous shooting and a fight where a firearm was produced. Counsel Assisting the Coroner Peter McGrath said police believed with shooting was the work of members of local drug gang DLASTHR.

McGrath named five men as persons of interest in Khananyah's death including Ramon Youmaran, Steven David, Danny Hurmz, George Hanna, Samer Marcus and Michael Odisho.^[10]

2006

Youmaran police escape

On 14 February 2006, Youmaran was spotted by police at a house in Woodcroft, Sydney which police had staked out. Youmaran got into the front passenger seat of a green Mercedes at about 6:15pm. Police tailed the Mercedes at speeds of up to 200 km/h across the M2 and M7 motorways, but the pursuit was called off due to safety concerns.^[11]

The following day, a 24-year-old man believed to be involved in the pursuit was arrested and taken to Green Valley Police Station for questioning. Shortly after detectives seized the Mercedes involved in the pursuit from a home in Cecil Hills. They performed forensic tests on the vehicle.^[11]

Murder of Audisho

On 9 April 2006, 21-year old Ashoor Audisho was shot and killed in Hamilton Road, Fairfield West. The murder was linked to Youmaran and DLASTHR.Later that year, three men were arrested and were refused bail.^[12][13]

Linard Shamouil, a founding member of DLASTHR, later pleaded guilty to the murder of Audisho. He was sentenced to fourteen years jail. At the time Linard was on bail for attempted murder, which he later was found guilty of and was sentenced to a pre-parole period of nine years. He was also sentenced to a five-year, non-parole period for dealing in methamphetamine.^[14]

Arrest of Raymon Youmaran

In June 2006 Ramon Youmaran was arrested at Mount Pritchard, following a series of police raids on homes in Sydney's western suburbs. He had been in hiding for four years. Police seized 3000 illegal methamphetamine tablets, with a street value of $1.2 million. Seven other high ranking gang members including Linard Shamouil were also arrested. In 2008 Youmaran pleaded guilty to the murder of Debaz and received a minimum of 17 years in jail.^[15]

Raphael Joseph arrest in the United States

Raphael Joseph (also known as Hassoni) was arrested in San Diego in October 2006.^[16] Joseph asked American authorities to deport him back to his country of birth, Iraq. Joseph was extradited from the US in February 2008 after fighting to stay there for more than a year. In March 2008 he faced court in Sydney and was charged with the murder of Dimitri Debaz.^[17] However the charges were later dropped after Joseph had been imprisoned for nearly 18 months.

On March 20, 2014 Rapahel Joseph disappeared after a meeting in Auburn, New South Wales, and has been presumed by police to have been abducted and murdered.

Police believe only hours before his abduction, Joseph visited the ex-partner of former Sydney Hells Angel Wayne Schneider, who was abducted and murdered 18 months later.

The two were friends who had risen through gang ranks to become major international criminals, each dealing in millions of dollars of drugs.^[18]

2013–present

Police raids

On 24, September 2013, more than 300 armed Sydney Police undertook 22 raids that "severely disrupted" the gang. Fifteen suspects were arrested, with four jet skis, a lotus sports car, replica guns and a boat were confiscated by NSW police for the investigation. A high-ranking member and gang coordinator was arrested at the Rossmore property and charged. The criminals faced 29 charges relating to drug provision and possession and being part of a gang. 8 kg of cannabis was found in one of the raids, which were close to $25,000 in cash.^[19]

In 2014 police arrested three remaining gang members and said that it had dismantled the gang's operations and described the gang as finished. Police had seized $20,000 worth of cannabis from the properties raided.^[20]

Gangs drug war

On 11, May 2016 police arrested and charged three gang members with shoot with intent to murder, over an incident occurring in Edensor Park.

The Last Hour trio shot at a car driven by the rival gang The True Kings, while the passenger managed to escape, one True Kings members was trapped inside the car and approached by a Last Hour member who allegedly attempted to shoot at him but the weapon did not fire.

Samer Marcus, Danny Hanna,George Hanna, were arrested and appeared before Fairfield Local Court charged with shooting with intent to murder.

No pleas were entered and they did not apply for bail. Marcus was a founding member of DLASTHR represented by the letter S.

On August 2016 one of the associates of the gang were charged over attempted murder of a 14 year old at Fairfield railway station. The boy, who survived the attack, was found bleeding with multiple stab wounds.^[21]

Lizard Log Park shooting

On December 24, 2016, 20 year old Antonio Hermiz, was shot dead at Lizard Log park Wetherill Park. 18 year old, Ronaldo Odisho, was wounded at the same time. The pair were sitting inside their vehicle at the popular Park, when another car approached. wittiness saw two groups of males arguing before shots were fired. The two men were both known to police and had ties to the Assyrian gang.^[22]

Murder of Adrian Buxton

Ex-Nomads bikie gang member Adrian Buxton was shot dead outside his home on May 17, 2016. After the murder of Antonio Hermiz, police investigation lead them to believe that DLASTHR group was responsible for the murder of Mr Buxton, but varying theories for the motive are yet to be solidified with evidence.

Police seized a car and a firearm at a house where two gang members were arrested in September 2016, police believe both were used to murder Mr Buxton, Ballistic examinations concluded that the weapon was used to murder Mr Buxton.

It’s understood that Mr Antonio Hermiz was trying to hide an Audi Q7 used in the murder of Adrian Buxton before he was murdered at the Lizard Log Park but police are yet to find the car.

Police suggest that Mr Buxton was having a sexual relationship with someone linked to a member of DLASTHR, or that a payment was made for a professional hit on Mr Buxton or that he was killed for his links to outlaw motorcycle gang.^[23]

Police would not say if Mr Hermiz was directly involved in the murder or what his role was, including disposing of the getaway car.^[24]

Queenpin's arrest

In February 2017, Alina Antal, was arrested in Cabramatta and was accused of being involved in cannabis supply in the greater Fairfield area. Antal is alleged to have been recruiting as well as directing teenage boys. Police allege she was closely associated with Oliver Merza a member of DLASTHR. Eight people were arrested, one those targeted included the brother of an alleged associate of the DLASTHR, who is in jail.

Investigators seized cannabis, cash, mobile phones, SIM cards, clothing and drug paraphernaliain raids of seven homes in Fairfield, Cabramatta West, Smithfield and Elizabeth Hills . Alina Antal & Oliver Merza were both charged with recruiting young teenage boys and acting with intent to pervert the course of justice.^[25]

Response

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli confessed that getting information from relatives and associates of the gang affiliates is the most vital aspect, stating, "If ever there is to be a message, it is to the family and friends of the people involved in crime. If you want to help ... to do the right thing then – it's about telling the police". The hesitance to come forward has thwarted recent police efforts to put a stop to the rising gang-related crime in Fairfield in 2016. He described the gang as "a criminal group that have made thousands upon thousands of dollars through their criminal activities" and "have been involved in public place shootings, in murders, and have been a criminal enterprise within the south west of Sydney."

He then concluded, "The New South Wales police force will not rest until we put each and every one of these criminals behind bars and we smashed this particular operation.^[26]

References

External links

• Aliraqi.org
• Smh.com.au
• Firearmcrime.blogspot.com