'Violent Drug Gang' Busted In Northwest Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - Federal agents have arrested a group of brothers and three other people who operated a "violent, armed drug gang" in northwest Detroit.
The recently unsealed indictment charges three brothers -- Mohamed, Abed and Fouad Faraj -- with distributing marijuana and prescription pills from a house in the 6800 block of Rutherford Street, near Warren Avenue and Greenfield Road, as well as in the city's greater Warrendale neighborhood.
According to United States Attorney Barbara McQuade, the criminal enterprise led by the Faraj brothers employed numerous teenagers and young men to act as their street level distributors.
McQuade said these young workers regularly had access to firearms supplied by the leaders and used arson as a tactic to create stash houses and to further the enterprise's narcotics distribution activities.
McQuade said the arrests are also significant because they were made under the Detroit One program -- a collaborative effort between law enforcement and the community to reduce homicide and other violent crime in the city.
In this case, investigators were able to share information and resources to identify the leaders and key members of the gang, leading to charges against six individuals in federal court.
"Detroit One is bringing a unified focus to arresting violent offenders in Detroit," McQuade said in a statement. "Dismantling violent drug gangs will help restore peace in our neighborhoods."
Among those charged are:
-- Mohamed Faraj, 29, of Dearborn Heights -- Charged with continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking, and use a telecommunications device in furtherance of narcotics trafficking.
-- Abed Faraj, 38, of Detroit -- Charged with continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking.
-- Fouad Faraj, 43, of Dearborn Heights -- Charged with continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking.
-- Mohammed Abdul Alhakami, 22, of Detroit -- Charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking.
- Ali Al-Hisnawi, 20, of Detroit -- Charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
- Adnan Bazzi, 28, of Dearborn -- Charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of narcotics trafficking, and felon in possession of a firearm.
"This is the perfect example of law enforcement teamwork," Police Chief James Craig said in a statement. "Working with our local, state, federal law enforcement agencies has and will continue to enhance our crime-fighting efforts in providing a safe environment for visitors and residents of the city of Detroit."
The case was initiated by the Comprehensive Violence Reduction Partnership, consisting of representatives of the Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, and ATF, and assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
