Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged six people after a man was allegedly kidnapped for ransom and detained for several days in Sydney’s west last week.
About 5.20am last Thursday (9 March 2023), a group of armed offenders forced entry to a home on Brenan Street, Smithfield, where they grabbed a 26-year-old man and forced him into a vehicle.
They fled the scene and police were notified a short time later.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad – assisted by Fairfield City Police Area Command – commenced Strike Force Kkuoa to investigate the incident.
Acting on intelligence and following extensive inquiries, Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) officers forced entry to a home in Belmore about 5.15pm yesterday (Tuesday 14 March 2023).
The 26-year-old man was located inside the home; he was assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital for further treatment. He is currently in a stable condition.
A 19-year-old man was arrested inside the home and taken to Campsie Police Station.
He was charged with special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, demand property with menaces with intent to steal, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place, and cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent.
Two 20-year-old men were arrested during a vehicle stop in Belmore and were also taken to Campsie Police Station.
Both men were charged with special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, demand property with menaces with intent to steal, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place, and cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent, while one of the men was charged with an additional offence of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
A third man, aged 20, was also arrested in Belmore and taken to Campsie Police Station.
He was charged with special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, demand property with menaces with intent to steal, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent.
They were all refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today (Wednesday 15 March 2023).
A further two men – aged 19, and 21 – were arrested last night at Mays Hill and taken to Granville Police Station.
They were both charged with special aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence, take/detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm, demand property with menaces with intent to steal, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place, and cause grievous bodily harm to person with intent.
They were refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court later today.
Police will allege in court the group abducted the man and detained him against his will for ransom, before he was physically abused over a period of six days.
Investigations are continuing with further arrests expected.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Kkuoa 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.
