Inside top cops’ fears alleged teenage guns-for-hire gang would cause carnage at a child care centre – before they dramatically swooped to stop alleged execution plot
Detectives swooped on an alleged teenage guns-for-hire hit squad said to be en route to execute a crime figure, amid fears innocent bystanders at a childcare centre could be caught in the crossfire.
Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18 and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal as part of an internal power struggle in a south-east Asian criminal network operating in Australia, police said on Wednesday.
But they were stopped in their tracks on Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic intervention by a police task force which had the alleged gang under surveillance.
Heavily armed police stopped traffic in Revesby in Sydney’s south-west as they opened fire on two vehicles in broad daylight.
Officers from Tactical Operations Unit, PolAir, the Dog Squad and State Intelligence Command decided to intervene amid fears the alleged hit could end in carnage.
‘We clearly stopped them from [allegedly] murdering someone and we clearly stopped other people, innocent bystanders, from being caught up in this intended [alleged] murder,’ Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said on Wednesday.
‘These people we arrested intending to carry out the [alleged] murder. They do not know the victim [or] have a personal relationship with the victim.
Tactical police were pictured swarming a Mercedes in Revesby on Tuesday afternoon
‘They were people hired by a syndicate, possibly an offshore syndicate, to carry out this murder on their behalf.’
He said the alleged assassination attempt was part of an internal squabble within the organisation.
‘We’ve been working on this crime syndicate relentlessly for a number of weeks,’ said Supt Faux.
‘We believe it is an internal matter where there is dispute inside the organisation.’
The unidentified target came ‘pretty close’ to being killed before police intervened, senior officers have revealed.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner and head of State Crime Command Scott Cook said on Wednesday that the Tactical Operations Squad has been ‘working relentlessly on this crime syndicate for a number of weeks’ prior to Tuesday’s operation.
‘Yesterday we were aware that these three people, their conduct and their behaviour just prior to this interdiction indicated they would do something of a serious nature,’ he said.
It’s understood that officers fired ‘bean bag’ rounds – pouches packed with lead pellets designed to stop but not kill – to bring the cars to a halt.
The Mitsubishi SUV was also peppered with bullets and had its windows smashed
Dramatic video footage showed officers in bulletproof vests at the scene
Dramatic video footage showed officers in bulletproof vests pounding on the sides of a silver Mercedes and shouting orders as one officer aimed his firearm at an occupant.
Within seconds, two men were dragged from the vehicle and pinned to the road.
Further down The River Road, a Mitsubishi SUV peppered with bullet holes was boxed in by police before officers hauled a third man from the driver’s seat.
Inside the vehicles, police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel.
The three men were arrested at the scene.
Mundine and Tighe have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a stolen vehicle, participating in a criminal group and breaching bail.
Tuiluga Rio is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal group. All were refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.
A Mitsubishi SUV (pictured) was also stopped and searched during the police operation
‘This was a calculated and coordinated intervention that stopped what we allege was a planned killing in a place where families expect to feel safe,’ said Assistant Commissioner Cook said.
‘This outcome reflects the strength of our intelligence capabilities and the precision of our surveillance operations. These individuals were being watched, and we moved at the right moment.
‘Strike Force Flodine is part of State Crime Command’s broader strategy to dismantle organised crime networks operating across Sydney, and these arrests are that strategy in action.
‘We remain committed to protecting the community from serious and organised crime, especially when it threatens everyday spaces where families expect to feel safe.’
