NSW Police foil alleged plot to kill high-profile Sydney underworld figure

Police say two early morning arrests have prevented an alleged plot in which a man was to be paid $400,000 to kill a well-known Sydney underworld figure.

NSW Police will allege a gunman was to be paid up to $400,000 to kill a major Sydney underworld crime figure which was prevented when they arrested two men on Wednesday morning.

Police said they also seized two handguns which were potentially going to be used to kill a 30-year-old man with strong links to organised crime groups in Sydney.

“We will be alleging that man, aged 30, was told he would receive unto $400,000 to carry out a contract killing,’’ said Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, of the NSW Organised Crime Squad.

“An 18-year-old man has also been arrested and we will be alleging that he was co-ordinating people to be involved in the murder, and organising such things as safe houses,’’ he said.

Police are not revealing who they believe is behind the alleged conspiracy to murder except to say it is linked to organised crime.

The alleged plot to kill the well-known underworld figure, was uncovered by the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad last month and Strike Force Barralier created.

NSW Police arrested two men on Wednesday morning after they uncovered an alleged murder plot. Picture: NSW Police

Police seized a number of items during the raids. Picture: NSW Police

It comes just a week after NSW Police also allegedly foiled a plot to kill all four members of Mt Druitt rap group, One Four.

The men arrested today have been identified as Sulaiman Ahmad, 18, of Greenfield Park and Azam El-Mohamad, 30, who is currently behind bars in jail.

Ahmad was taken to Fairfield Police Station and El-Mohamad to Waverley Police Station where they were charged with conspiracy to murder, and participate in a criminal group.

Both men were refused bail and are expected to face Fairfield Local Court and Waverley Local Court respectively, today.

Police allege the pair were part of a criminal cell conspiring to murder the rival man who is known to have affiliations to organised crime figures in Sydney’s underworld.

A gun was seized by police as part of the raids. Picture: NSW Police

The men will face court on Wednesday.

Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Grant Taylor said the arrests were a sign of how their determined investigations were reaping results.

“Organised Crime Squad detectives are focused on cutting serious criminal enterprise off at the knees; to proactively identify, intercept and disrupt those seeking to intimidate and/or do harm to others,” Det Supt Taylor said.

“Only last week we demonstrated the effectiveness of arresting and charging those involved in planning criminal actions, and we are dedicated to work proactively to identify and prevent high-risk events before victims are created and we have appalling crimes to investigate.

“This is the third such operation where SCC detectives have identified and intervened to prevent an alleged criminal cell involved in conspiracy to murder. It won’t be the last.”

Since just before Christmas, police have allegedly stopped an attempt to murder a Sydney businessman and the One Four group.

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