$2.1M HAUL 'FOUND ON DOORMAN'

A Kings Cross doorman who allegedly "squandered" more than $350,000 in
a series of visits to Melbourne's Crown Casino since June was charged
yesterday with possession of $2.1 million illegally obtained cash.

Noureddine Laalaa was originally charged with conspiracy to supply
cocaine and heroin, and possession of stolen goods after his arrest at
his parents' home in Punchbowl during a series of dawn drug raids
across Sydney last week.

But when the 32-year-old Laalaa faced Central Local Court magistrate
Mr Alan Moore yesterday, detectives from the Kings Cross Drugs Unit
and Crime Agencies laid four fresh charges.

They related to the discovery of cash allegedly hidden at the Park
Avenue, Punchbowl, home where Laalaa lived with his elderly parents,
and to cash found hidden in the clothing of all three of them when
police raided the premises on August 3.

Police allege $1,984,250 in Australia currency "reasonably suspected
of being stolen or unlawfully obtained" was found in a suitcase hidden
in an ensuite to Laalaa's bedroom.

After police surrounded the home, Laalaa and his father, Mohammed, and
mother, Alijahida, were searched on leaving the premises.

Laalaa had $750 in cash, his mother had $60,700 and his father
$111,300.

Neither parent was charged in relation to the money, but charges that
the cash was "suspected of being stolen" or "unlawfully obtained" were
laid against their son, who has been in custody since the raid.

During the previous appearance police alleged Laalaa had "squandered"
more than $350,000 in a series of brief visits to the Crown Casino in
Melbourne since June 25, in a total of eight hours' betting.

Laalaa, who did not enter a plea, was remanded to reappear before the
court on September 6.