This story from ABC.net.au says that the arrested people had so much methylamphetamine on them that clearly they were major dealers. It identifies them by name as Ziad and Rabih Jneid, but doesn’t identify them further. However, an earlier version of the story that now resolves to the link below had a very different headline: “WA Islamic Council president Rateb Jneid among those charged over drugs, guns seizure.” Now all mention of Rabih Jneid’s connection to the Western Australian Islamic Council has been removed from the story.
And quite rightly, you may say, for the connection is only incidental; even though we have seen the jihadists of the Taliban and al Qaeda fund their jihads by means of drug trafficking, the WA Islamic Council is moderate, and anyway police haven’t given a hint of any possibility that Rabih Jneid was funding jihad activities by dealing drugs,
Maybe so, but if Rabih Jneid were the Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth, or a leading rabbi in Western Australia, would the Australian Broadcasting Corporation not find the discovery that he was a major drug trafficker newsworthy in connection with his position? Would it show a similar concern for the reputation of the institution involved, so as to scrub all mention of it from its coverage of the drug bust?
I doubt it.
“Drug syndicate smashed after Perth seizure, police say,” by Graeme Powell, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 29, 2014:
Drugs and firearms seized in raids in Kewdale and elsewhere Photo: Drugs and firearms seized from a car and in raids in Perth. (ABC News: Graeme Powell)
Map: Perth 6000Police in Perth believe they have smashed an organised crime syndicate following the seizure of four kilograms of methylamphetamine.
They said the seizure of two kilograms of drugs during a routine traffic stop in January led to a four-month operation which culminated in raids on six properties in Perth in April.
Police seized methylamphetamine with a street value of $8 million, firearms and $380,000 in cash.
Two of those charged are Ziad and Rabih Jneid.
Police said some of those arrested during the raids were part of a sophisticated drug ring.
“They’re at the top of the hierarchy as heads of a syndicate, so these are significant players,” Detective Inspector Chris Adams said.
“When you are caught in possession of up to four kilos you are a significant importer of methylamphetamine.”…