Inside 'Kraken's' sting that led to Sydney underworld figure's arrest

Sam Amine, a 39-year-old Australian underworld figure, appeared in the NSW District Court after pleading guilty to orchestrating the supply of drugs and firearms. Court documents disclosed that Amine had informed an undercover officer that the 500 grams of MDMA he was offering was "light but very strong" and facilitated the supply of a weapon. Amine, who is currently being held in the NSW District Court awaiting sentencing, is also wanted by Fijian authorities in connection with a major drug importation.

The undercover operation began in April 2024 when Threema handle "Kraken," believed to be Amine, contacted him via encrypted app. Two days later, footage showed Amine's nephew, Nabil Allouche, entering a police officer's vehicle outside a Greenacre McDonald's. In May, following another request from Kraken, Amine brokered the sale of a .45 calibre pistol for $28,000, with the exchange occurring two days later.

A week after that, Amine facilitated the exchange of 986 grams of MDMA and 56 grams of cocaine for $48,000. Following this transaction, police moved to arrest Allouche and Amine himself.

The undercover operation also led to the seizure of drugs and firearms in May, with Amine arrested shortly thereafter. In April, the ABC reported that Amine is wanted in Fiji over a record 4-tonne methamphetamine seizure, with the country's High Court branding him a "drug kingpin" last year. Amine had previously left Fiji and was charged in May 2024 for selling drugs and a firearm to an undercover officer.

His arrest saw anti-gangs Raptor Squad storm his waterfront Sans Souci mansion in Ramsgate. Police also seized assets worth $10 million from Amine as part of the ongoing investigation into his criminal activities and associations with Sydney's gangland underworld.