Sword Boys
{{cleanup rewrite|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox criminal organisation
| name = Sword Boys
| territory = Perth, Western Australia
| founded = 1990s
| founding_location = Perth, Western Australia
| ethnicity = Lebanese Australians
| activities = Drug trafficking
}}
Sword Boys is a street gang in Perth, Western Australia, consisting mostly of Lebanese Australians,{{cite news|title=Gangland explosion |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4692/is_200202/ai_n17759822 |date=2 February 2002 |work=The West Australian |accessdate=27 June 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}{{cite news|title=Gang alliance: Bikies, young thugs join forces |author=Ben Martin and Ben Harvey |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/20020202/news/perth/tw-news-perth-home-sto42789.html |work=The West Australian |date=2 February 2002 |accessdate=27 June 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020207055419/http://www.thewest.com.au/20020202/news/perth/tw-news-perth-home-sto42789.html |archivedate=7 February 2002}} that has been known to authorities since mid-1990s.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/0/1540c35228adaa9b48256f00002b37b5?OpenDocument&Date=2004-08-26 |title=Police, Government Policy and Initiatives |author=Ray Halligan |work=Legislative Council of Western Australia Hansard |date=26 August 2004 |accessdate=27 June 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}[http://www.ozbiker.org/news_current/wa_speculation_27_1_05.htm Media speculation on WA tensions] Gang members have been reported to wear a miniature gold scimitar on a chain around their necks.{{cite news|work=The West Australian |first=Ben |last=Martin |date=10 May 2003 |title=Police Bust Street Gang Over Drugs |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/20030510/news/perth/tw-news-perth-home-sto97562.html |accessdate=27 June 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030529074801/http://www.thewest.com.au/20030510/news/perth/tw-news-perth-home-sto97562.html |archivedate=29 May 2003}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ozbiker.org/news_current/swordboys_cheater_bust_14_03_03.htm |title=WA cops bust street gang with OMC links over drugs |work=Oz Biker |date=14 March 2003 |accessdate=27 June 2007}}
Sword Boys has been responsible for amphetamine and ecstasy distribution in Western Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/edf12eb560968afa48256c460024a927/cb91a37ce40bcd3548256e36000fc8be?OpenDocument&Date=2003-05-13 |title=Gang Violence |author=Michelle Roberts, Minister for Police and Emergency Services |work=Western Australia Legislative Assembly Hansard |date=13 May 2003 |accessdate=27 June 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} and has also been linked to car rebirthing by Western Sydney gangs, where stolen cars are stripped and reassembled.
2014 arrests
In 2014 brothers Ziad Jneid and Rabih Jneid were arrested and charged as part of a drug syndicate coordinating the distribution of drugs ({{cvt|4|kg|disp=sqbr}} of crystal methamphetamine) across the Perth metropolitan area. They were charged with conspiracy to sell or supply a prohibited drug. Two other men also charged with supplying a prohibited drug.{{cite news|work=watoday |first=Liam |last=Ducey |date=29 May 2014 |title=WA Police crack Perth methylamphetamine supply chain |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-police-crack-perth-methylamphetamine-supply-chain-20140529-zrrg8.html |accessdate=7 September 2020}}{{cite news|work=Perth Now |first=Calla |last=Wahlquist |date=29 May 2014 |title=Organised crime raids seize 4 kg methylamphetamine, $380,000 cash – four charged |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/organised-crime-raids-seize-4kg-methylamphetamine-380000-cash-four-charged/story-fnhocxo3-1226935480962 |accessdate=29 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529043325/http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/organised-crime-raids-seize-4kg-methylamphetamine-380000-cash-four-charged/story-fnhocxo3-1226935480962 |archive-date=29 May 2014 |url-status=dead}} Ziad Jneid has repeatedly denied any role in a Lebanese mafia operating in Perth called the Sword Boys.{{cite news|work=The West Australian |first=Gary |last=Adshead |date=29 May 2014 |title=Islamic chief firearms charge |url=http://68.142.242.246/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=islamic+chief+firearms+charge+site:au.news.yahoo.com&fr=404_news_au&url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/23937586/islamic-chief-firearms-charge% |accessdate=29 May 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}
2016 convictions
On 31 August 2016, Ziad Jneid and Rabih Jneid were convicted and sentenced by the Perth District Court after both pleading guilty before trial for their roles in the supply of almost {{cvt|2|kg}} and almost {{cvt|1|kg}}, respectively, of methylamphetamine in 2014. Ziad Jneid received fourteen-and-a-half years' imprisonment and Rabih Jneid received 15 years' imprisonment. Both were described as being upper-echelon drug suppliers motivated by greed. The brothers have links to a notorious Perth Asian street gang jailed for their involvement in the 2013 extortion of a karaoke bar.{{cite news|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |first=Joanna |last=Menagh |date=31 August 2016 |title=Perth brothers jailed for more than 12 years for drug dealing business |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/perth-brothers-sentenced-to-lengthy-jail-terms-for-drug-dealing/7803054 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}{{cite news|work=The West Australian |first=Elle |last=Farcic |date=31 August 2016 |title=Meth brothers jailed over sophisticated drug dealing business |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/meth-brothers-jailed-over-sophisticated-drug-dealing-business-ng-ya-266900| accessdate=26 March 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2005/s1303196.htm |title=Is street gang violence getting out of control? |date=11 February 2005 |work=ABC Stateline |access-date=22 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311004345/http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/content/2005/s1303196.htm |archive-date=11 March 2007 |url-status=dead}}