Organised crime syndicates in NSW using hi-tech drones to stalk, murder and kidnap victims in gang wars

Organised crime gangs with a passion for high-tech tools are now even using spy drones to stalk, murder and kidnap victims and avoid physical surveillance risks.

Criminals have been discovered using signal jammers, wifi dongles, portable routers and counter surveillance technology as well as 3D printers and AirTags in kill kits used in their violent and murderous crime sprees.

The revelations come as it can be revealed authorities believe there have been more than 30 suspected contract killings in Sydney’s gangland wars since 2020.

In a snapshot of serious and organised crime landscape in the past year, the powerful NSW Crime Commission has revealed the string of contract killings, attempted murders and kidnappings were highly organised and involved considerable preplanning, including physical surveillance, drone surveillance, kill cars and the deployment of tracking devices.

“Use of tech to monitor targets for violent assaults including kidnapping and murder leaves victims little chance of escape and survival,” the Commissioner of the NSW Crime Commission, Michael Barnes warned in an exclusive interview.

Mr Barnes said crooks will use whatever technology they can get their hands on, and it is an increasing problem for law enforcement to stay ahead of criminal activities.

“They have increased their use of sophisticated technical capabilities. Drones are one example that illustrates how serious and organised crime groups are using technology to support their operations often via specialised contract crews. This will continue and evolve as tech moves forward,” Mr Barnes said.

He also said electronic monitoring of potential victims also means an improved visibility of potential law enforcement activities, making it harder for them to investigate and easier for criminals to execute.

The Commission, which has coercive powers and can summons anyone to answer questions in its star chamber or face jail, has revealed it is investigating eleven contract murders and attempted murders in just the past financial year.

One of the most high-profile examples is the alleged murder plot targeting the Sydney rap group OneFour. A third-party professional contract hit crew allegedly used a drone and other surveillance methods to track the rappers and watch their every move, but police got wind of the alleged plot and foiled it.

Another nine contract murders from the previous year are also still under investigation including the brutal 2022 gangland murder of two women - gangster mum Lametta Fadlallah and her friend and hairdresser Amy Hazouri who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In the Crime Commission’s 2023/2024 annual report, it is revealed crime gangs are using extreme violence to not only control illicit drug markets, but to silence potential witnesses and to seek revenge for past violence and homicides.

Retaliatory violence between criminal groups and others has risen dramatically with some public place shootings and homicides believed to be linked to violent events dating back almost ten years.

The annual report says there has been significant use of ‘kill cars,’ which use cloned number plates and often contain firearms, jerry cans full of accelerant, gloves, balaclavas, and additional clothes.

The Commission assessed 11 homicides and attempted homicides to be organised crime related. The hits resulted in the death of five people and serious harm and injury to nine others.

The Commission is involved in joint investigations with law enforcement agencies of five of these events and 31 offenders have been arrested in relation to these investigations.

In 2023-2024, there were 161 joint arrests and 1108 joint charges - the highest number of charges, and second highest number of arrests on record for the Commission.

Most of the arrests and charges came from three investigations, including Strike Force Tromperie, targeting the so-called Haoucher syndicate conducted jointly with the NSW Police Organised Crime Squad, which resulted in 32 arrests and 272 charges for a wide range of offences.

“The high number of arrests and charges from this investigation are assessed to have had a significant impact on the serious and organised crime landscape – obliterating several SOC syndicates and severely disrupting a Transnational SOC network including through the arrests of Kingpins based offshore and the seizure of their assets,” the report said.

Most of the charges related to drugs, money laundering and guns.

Separately, the Commission charged eight offenders with 57 offences for giving false or misleading evidence or revealing information from compulsory Commission hearings.