CCTV of ‘contract crew' released after murder, kidnapping
Police have obtained chilling CCTV footage of a group allegedly linked to murder, torture and kidnapping across two states in 2024.
Three incidents being investigated by Strike Force Hallet include the murder of Rich 'Dylan' Choup in Sydney last July, and the attempted murder of another man who was shot and buried alive.
Mr Choup's body was found in bushland south of Sydney, while the 23-year-old who survived a shooting stumbled into a Queensland petrol station before collapsing with a bullet lodged in his brain.
Detectives believe the attacks – which occurred over a 'six-day period of carnage' – may be linked to a Victorian drug syndicate.
Footage of multiple men and cars used during the incidents were released on Monday as NSW Police step up their efforts to locate them,
The first episode took place on July 19, 2024 when a 31-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped from Canley Vale in Sydney's southwest.
He was allegedly tortured by his captives and had part of his right ear severed before being released the same day.
Although the man never reported the incident, detectives searched a Canley Vale property where the man is believed to have been held on October 10.
During the search, police located a box cutter which was seized for further forensic analysis.
Police have obtained CCTV of two vehicles travelling in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Ave and Sackville St, Canley Vale around the time of the incident.
The vehicles were a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf.
Then, on July 21 last year, a 23-year-old man entered a Queensland service station covered in dirt and with a bullet wound to his head.
He collapsed at the scene in Tamborine St, Jimboomba and staff called police despite his request not to alert authorities.
The man was taken to hospital where it was established he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.
Queensland and NSW 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.
CCTV captured a white Hyundai Getz at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the Mid North Coast of NSW about 5:30am on Saturday, July 20, 2024 – the day before the attempted murder.
Four males were also seen on CCTV.
One is believed to be the victim, suggesting he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland before being shot and buried.
The third incident was the alleged murder of Mr Rich, 32, a father whose remains were discovered in bushland more than a month after he went missing on July 25, 2024.
Mr Choup had told friends he had a meeting in Cabramatta and asked they wait nearby.
CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Pde, who appeared to slap him and order him toward a car about 6:25pm.
Both men were captured walking towards a grey Audi SQ2 – potentially the same vehicle used in the Canley Vale kidnapping. Mr Choup was reported missing four days later.
On the morning of August 31, 2024, officers were called to bushland off Heathcote Rd, Lucas Heights after reports trail bike riders discovered human remains.
The remains were later confirmed to be those of Mr Choup and a post-mortem confirmed he was been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed.
Detectives have also released footage of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3.
Two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance are also of interest to police.
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