PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF-branded footage of the Drummoyne, Wattle Grove and Chipping Norton arrests will be available later today.
Task Force Magnus detectives have dismantled a criminal cell and arrested eight people after an investigation into a fatal shooting in Greenacre this year.
Shortly after 2.15am on Sunday 23 July 2023, emergency services were called to Mayvic Street following reports of a public place shooting.
On arrival, NSW Ambulance paramedics treated a 25-year-old man found injured in a parked vehicle.
He was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where he died on Thursday 27 July 2023.
A 22-year-old man and 19-year-old woman located in a separate parked vehicle were also injured. While the woman has since recovered, the man sustained life-altering spinal injuries.
Detectives from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad commenced investigations under Strike Force Alpina before the matter was taken carriage of by Task Force Magnus.
Task Force Magnus was established in July as a proactive policing strategy to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney.
Detectives making inquiries into the murder soon identified a criminal cell linked to the Haouchar Organised Criminal Network (OCN) who police believe were responsible for the shooting and other serious offences.
Police also established all three victims were targeted by the syndicate in a case of mistaken identity.
Following extensive inquiries, about 6am today (Wednesday 20 December 2023), Task Force Magnus detectives, assisted by specialist resources, coordinated a series of simultaneous dawn raids.
In total, police executed eight search warrants across Sydney and the Central Coast, including Drummoyne, Wattle Grove, Miller, Homebush West, Moorebank and Gorokan.
The Tactical Operations Unit assisted in Drummoyne, where detectives arrested two men, aged 24 and 40. The men were taken to Burwood Police Station, where the older man is expected to be charged over his alleged links to the criminal network, and the younger man is expected to be charged with murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting.
At an address in Wattle Grove, police arrested a 25-year-old man who was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he is expected to be charged with offences relating to his alleged involvement in the criminal group.
In Moorebank, a 21-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where she is expected to be charged over her alleged involvement in the criminal group.
On the Central Coast, a 40-year-old man was arrested in Gorokan. He was taken to Wyong Police Station where is expected to be charged with offences relating to his alleged involvement in the criminal group.
About 9.30am today, two men – aged 39 and 25 – were escorted from a correctional centre in Parklea to Riverstone Police Station, where they were placed under arrest expected to be charged with murder for their alleged involvement in the shooting.
A 27-year-old man was escorted from a correctional centre in Wellington and taken to Wellington Police Station where he was placed under arrest and expected to be charged with accessory before the fact to murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting.
Director of State Crime Command, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, said the Greenacre shooting was the worst calibre of crime.
"This criminal group were of the mistaken belief they could do what they wanted when they wanted and showed a blatant disregard for human life in carrying out such a brazen attack on innocent people.
"But today shows they can't get away with it – and to the person who pulled the trigger in this murder: we are closing in on you as we speak," Det C/Supt Weinstein said.
"The mission of Task Force Magnus was never just to solve standalone acts of violence, but to dismantle the responsible criminal networks in their entirety. Today is evidence of that."
Inquiries under Strike Force Alpina and Task Force Magnus continue.
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.
