Servo clip has to be seen to be believed
Police believe a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate may be linked to the three incidents that occurred within a six-day period mid last year.
The first incident occurred about 5am on July 21 last year when a 23-year-old man wandered into a service station in Jimboomba, Queensland, covered in dirt with a bullet wound through his head.
'Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later,' a police statement said.
'Although the man asked staff not to call emergency services, he collapsed shortly after, prompting them to seek help. CCTV shows the man entering the Queensland service station with a bullet wound through his eye before collapsing. NSW Police Credit: Supplied
'The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital where it was established he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.'
Two days earlier in Canley Vale, Sydney police believe a 31-year old man was kidnapped and tortured and had part of his ear severed before being released later the same day.
The incident wasn't reported to police; however, when detectives executed a search warrant on the property where the man was believed to have been held, they discovered the box cutter they believe was used to sever his ear.
The third incident involved the discovery of the remains of 32-year-old Rich 'Dylan' Choup in bushland off Sydney's south. Bushland in Sydney's south where the remains of Rich Choup were found. NSW Police Credit: Supplied
'A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed,' the police statement continued.
'Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on Thursday 25 July 2024 in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked they wait nearby.
'About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade who appeared to reprimand and slap him.'
Although Mr Choup was reported missing on Monday, July 29, 2024, it wasn't until about 4.40pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024, that officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command were called to bushland off Heathcote Rd at Lucas Heights after reports trail bike riders discovered human remains. Mr Choup and the man who slapped him were seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. NSW Police Credit: Supplied
The remains were later confirmed to be those of Mr Choup.
Links to drug syndicate revealed
Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi said police believed Mr Choup was an employee of the Victorian drug trafficking syndicate and had 'fallen foul' for some reason.
'We don't have the exact details - that is also part of our appeal today, is to establish what the exact motive may have been,' he said.
'In relation to that, we believe the kidnapping of the first male is also linked to a drug trafficking syndicate and something that's gone wrong within that trafficking syndicate.
'In relation to the attempted murder of the man in Queensland, that unfortunately is not that clear - it remains unclear at the moment, the exact motive, but there is a possibility that that also is linked to (it).'
He said the CCTV footage of Mr Choup being slapped by another man demonstrated the 'level of hierarchy' within the syndicate. Superintendent Doueihi said it was unclear whether the man who was shot and buried alive in Queensland was also linked to the drug syndicate. NewsWire / John Appleyard Credit: News Corp Australia
'For Mr Choup just to sit there and be slapped in public would suggest to me that that person that was speaking to him holds a much higher position in that organisation than he did,' he said.
'There was no resistance there, there was no attempt to flee, there was no attempt to strike back. So, it was quite evident from that footage that Mr Choup was in fear of that person.'
Superintendent Doueihi said it had been seen often that part of the syndicate's 'torturing technique' involved severing hostages' ears, fingers, and toes to try to get the information they wanted.
'I don't know - well, we don't know what the exact nature of the dispute was here,' he said.
'It may be a case of missing drugs or missing money. If I was a betting man, that's what I would say the situation was.
'(It's) an absolute high level of violence. It's unfortunate that we are seeing this high level of violence.
'And these are linked to these organised crime drug trafficking groups, who we believe majority are from an Asian background.'
Superintendent Doueihi said the surviving victims were talking to police to 'a certain extent', but were not fully cooperating.
He told reporters it was believed the contract crew remained in Australia.
Clues in CCTV footage
As part of the ongoing investigations, police have released CCTV and images and are appealing to those who may have information to contact law enforcement.
CCTV from a roadhouse in Nambucca Heads on the NSW Mid North Coast about 5.30am on July 20, 2024 shows a white Hyundai Getz.
Four male passengers are also captured on CCTV. One is believed to be the victim, who police suggest was picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland where his attempted murder took place.
In relation to the kidnapping, vision shows an image of the boxcutter police allege was used to sever the man's ear, as well as CCTV of two vehicles travelling in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Ave and Sackville St in Canley Vale around the time of the incident. The boxcutter police allege was used to sever the ear of a man on Friday 19 July, Mr Choup was found with a similar injury. NSW Police Credit: Supplied
The vehicles are described as a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf.
In relation to Mr Choup's murder, CCTV also captures Mr Choup and the man who slapped him walking towards a grey Audi SQ2. Police believe this may be the same vehicle used in the kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier.
Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3.
The two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance, are also of interest to police.
Strike Force Hallet has been established to investigate the slew of incidents and anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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