Drug dealer’s son has body part cut off in failed $5m kidnap bid
The son of a major Sydney drug dealer has had a body part cut off in a failed $5m kidnapping plot.
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The son of a major Sydney drug dealer has had a body part cut off in a failed $5m kidnapping plot.
The young man was found alive yesterday after being tortured — during which it’s believed part of his finger or ear was cut-off in a failed multimillion-dollar extortion attempt.
Police found the 21-year-old badly wounded in an abandoned home in the outer west of Sydney yesterday morning.
He was snatched the previous day from southwest Sydney.
The victim was then told to ring his family saying he would have his fingers or an ear cut off and suffer even worse consequences unless they came up with $5 million.
The family notified police of the blackmail attempt and a massive covert operation was mounted to locate him.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the kidnappers were prepared to negotiate the price down.
Police sources have confirmed the kidnapping and rescue operation took place but would not reveal the identity of the crimefigure or any other details.
The 21-year-old was found with multiple injuries including lacerations to his body and appeared to have been badly beaten.
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“It’s an ongoing and sensitive investigation,” a police source said.
The kidnapping is the latest in a string of blackmail plots carried out on known crime figures and their families where the extortionists ask for millions of dollars.
The NSW Robbery and Serious Crime Squad joined forces with the NSW Crime Commission earlier this year to establish Strike force Trichbourne to address the spate of crimes.
It had immediate success and has arrested a dozen people in connection with at least four kidnappings.
Most of these crimes go unreported as the criminals don’t want to bring attention to themselves.
At least two victims have had petrol poured on them with the threat to set them alight if the money is not paid.
In most cases it is without police intervention.
Underworld sources have told The Daily Telegraph the practice has been going on for at least two years.
NSW Police believe there is not one syndicate behind them but a few different gangs operating independently.