PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF-branded footage of the arrests will be available later today.
State Crime Command detectives have arrested two people, executed four search warrants, and foiled an alleged murder plot as part of inquiries under Strike Force Tromperie, Strike Force Veil and Strike Force Ballyana.
In December 2022, State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad – together with the NSW Crime Commission – established Strike Force Tromperie to investigate the activities of an international criminal syndicate hailing from Lebanon.
To date, 28 people have been charged for organised crime related offences and remain before the courts.
During inquiries under Strike Force Tromperie, detectives identified a 26-year-old man was allegedly coordinating an off-shoot criminal cell who were taking on contract work – sometimes from rival criminal networks – to carry out serious and violent crime such as murders and kidnappings on their behalf.
Police will allege in court the criminal cell were conspiring to murder four high-profile men from Sydney's north-west on behalf of another network.
Police will also allege the group were linked to a kidnapping in March 2023, and an alleged attempted kidnapping over a 722kg importation of cocaine seized by police in Ryde, which State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad investigated under Strike Force Ballyana and Strike Force Veil.
About 6.10am on today (Thursday 11 January 2023), strike force detectives – with assistance from South West Metropolitan Operational Support Group and the Australian Border Force – executed a search warrant in Cartwright where officers arrested the 26-year-old man.
He was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he is expected to be charged with conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, firearm offences, and large commercial quantity of prohibited drug supply.
Simultaneously in Sadlier, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – arrested a 20-year-old, who was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he is expected to be charged with the same offences.
Search warrants were also executed at homes in Riverstone and Ashcroft.
As inquiries continue, police have applied for an arrest warrant for a 22-year-old man who is believed to be offshore.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
