Strike Force Magnus officers will spend weekend targeting gangland criminals

Newly minted Strike Force Magnus — comprising 100 of NSW’s most seasoned police officers — has wasted no time in getting down to business, spending this weekend cracking down on gangland crims in a bid to stem the shootings on Sydney streets.

Criminals across Sydney caught up in the out-of-control gang wars have been warned their doors may be kicked open this weekend as the state’s new crack team swings into action.

After five shootings in a week, NSW Police vowed to reclaim the streets, swiftly pulling together 100 of the state’s most seasoned operators.

It’s the biggest show of force since the tit-for-tat shootings began.

Police have wasted no time, launching their first targeted, high-profile operation on Saturday.

The man at the helm, Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Weinstein, exclusively told The Saturday Telegraph on Friday night that Strike Force Magnus had “commenced operational activity”.

Gangland criminals can expect an unannounced visit from Strike Force Magnus officers. Picture: NSW Police

“There will be action this weekend on a range of identified individuals who are involved in facilitating these organised crime groups,” Chief Supt Weinstein said.

“It’s only the beginning of the operation that will be occurring over the next foreseeable future until we suppress and then arrest those who are involved in continuing to impact on the safety of our communities.”

Reinforcing her resolve to hunt down the killers, Police Commissioner Karen Webb said her officers, along with the community, had “had enough”.

“We’re coming for you and we will find you,” she said.

“These criminals have a total disregard for anyone and for human life. There is no place for them on our streets and in our communities.”

She said Task Force Magnus would “put these criminals where they belong”.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Ferenc ‘David’ Stemler, 28, is the latest victim in the bloody gang wars. He was shot dead as he met with two men outside his rental home in Canterbury just after 2am on Thursday.

He was the fifth person to be shot on a Sydney street in as many days, and was gunned down just hours after lawyer Mahmoud Abbas was shot in the leg and torso outside his home in Greenacre some 7km away.

Earlier in the week 25-year-old Ahmad Al-Azzam was shot in the same suburb. He died in hospital on Thursday.

Also injured in the attack were Kaashif Richards, 22 and 19-year-old Achiraya ­Jantharat. Police believe Mr Stemler’s death was the result of a drug dispute and linked to the shooting in a Marrickville barber shop two weeks ago.

Twenty-year-old Eric Siale was shot in the chest and his 33-year-old brother William Siale was hit in the buttocks ­inside the hairdresser on Marrickville Rd on July 7.

Late last month cocaine dealer Alen Moradian was shot in broad daylight in a Bondi carpark and, on May 22, Marvin Oraiha was killed in Elizabeth Hills.

Simione Sefanaia Lua, 22, was later arrested at the Roselands address and taken to Campsie police station where he was charged with Oraiha’s murder.

Task Force Magnus has pulled together the separate strike forces set up to investigate the shootings of Mr Stemler and Mr Abbas.

It brings eight existing strike forces under the one umbrella so detectives can better identify the common links.

In response to the recent spate of violent deaths, former police minister Paul Toole this week called for a royal commission into how drugs are entering NSW through airports and ports.

But Premier Chris Minns swiftly rejected the idea, saying the last thing police in Sydney needed at this critical time was to tie officers up with an ­“unnecessary” inquiry.

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