Task Force Magnus detectives have dismantled a criminal cell and charged 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 younger man was charged with murder, two counts of shoot at with intent to murder, and participate in criminal group. He was refused bail and appeared before Burwood Local Court today.
The older man was charged with fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, possess DECCD to commit etc serious criminal activity and participate criminal group. He was refused bail and appeared before Burwood local court today.
In Moorebank, a 21-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where she was charged with 13 criminal-group related offences including two counts of possess unregistered firearm-pistol, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, organises/conducts/assists drug premises and commercial quality drug supply. She was refused bail and appeared before Liverpool Local Court today.
At an address in Wattle Grove, police arrested a 25-year-old man who was taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm and participate criminal group. He was refused bail and appeared before Liverpool Local Court today.
On the Central Coast, a 40-year-old man was arrested in Gorokan. He was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and two counts of supply prohibited drug
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 where the 39-year-old was charged with murder, two counts of shoot at with intent to murder, and knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime.
The 25-year-old man was charged with murder, two counts of shoot at with intent to murder, and participate in criminal group.
They were remanded in custody to appear at Blacktown Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 21 December 2023).
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 charged with accessory before the fact to murder and participate in a criminal group. He was remanded in custody to appear before Burwood Local Court tomorrow.
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.
