A teenage boy has been arrested in Sydney over an alleged hitman syndicate police claim he ran from his family home.
The 15-year-old foreign national was arrested at a home in western Sydney on Wednesday morning.
Officers from the Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant at the property and seized electronic devices, which will undergo forensic examination.
It’s alleged the teenager used an encrypted application to facilitate plans for overseas contract killings in Europe on behalf of a transnational criminal syndicate.
AFP were first alerted to the alleged activity by Danish Police earlier this month.
‘Crime-as-a-service contract killings involve individuals or groups outsourcing criminal activities to third parties and using online platforms and social media to plan and execute the illegal acts,’ AFP said in a statement.
The 15-year-old boy was charged under both Australian and Danish law.
Under the Australian Criminal Code, he was charged with one count of using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely conspiracy to murder.
A teenage boy has been arrested in Sydney over an alleged hitman syndicate police claim he ran from his family home
The 15-year-old boy was charged under both Australian and Danish law
Officers from the Australian Federal Police executed a search warrant at the Sydney property and seized electronic devices
Under the Danish Penal Code, he was charged with using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely murder.
Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
The boy appeared before Surry Hills Children’s Court and was formally refused bail.
He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on June 11.
AFP Commander Brett James warned criminals using encrypted chat services that law enforcement will always be a step ahead.
‘The AFP regularly works with foreign policing partners, such as the Danish Police, and the identification of these alleged international criminal links is a testament to the enduring partnership and collaboration between our agencies,’ he said.
‘If you think you can use geography to evade law enforcement, you’re mistaken.
‘The AFP and its partners are always watching, sharing intelligence and ready to apprehend those who wish to harm our communities.’
Australian and Danish police alleged the teenager used encrypted messaging services to organise hits
The teenage boy faced two charges, both of which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment
The boy appeared before Surry Hills Children’s Court and was formally refused bail
Danish Police Deputy Chief Superintendent of the National Special Crime Unit, Lars Feldt-Rasmussen attributed the arrest to close and effective cooperation between Australian, Swedish and Danish police.
‘While in Australia, the young man is suspected of having attempted to recruit people to commit contract killings in Denmark and Sweden as part of ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region,’ he said.
‘This case highlights our collaborative and effective international police cooperation and shows that we are united in our fight against cross-border crime.’
