Sydney’s ongoing gang crime, including a gruesome alleged kidnapping in which a man’s teeth were pulled out, has been compared to the streets of crime-ridden Brazil.
Peter Vuong, 26, was reportedly ambushed near a home in Smithfield, western Sydney, around 5:20 a.m. last Thursday by a group of six men wearing face coverings and armed with sledgehammers and firearms.
The men are accused of retaliating for a drug deal gone wrong involving one of Mr. Vuong’s relatives.
Police will allege Mr Vuong was held for six days in a derelict house on Canterbury Road in Belmore, south-west Sydney, and suffered severe ‘physical assault’, allegedly attacked with a sledgehammer and having his teeth pulled out.
Vuong was rescued by dozens of heavily armed tactical police officers in Belmore, Sydney’s southwest, on Tuesday
Police will claim Mr Vuong (left) suffered intense ‘physical assault’, allegedly attacked with a sledgehammer and had his teeth pulled out
He was rescued by dozens of heavily armed tactical police officers on Tuesday night.
Criminologist Xanthe Mallet said she had “never seen anything like” the alleged abduction in Australia.
“This is something you would expect in South America — Brazil — for example,” she told the Today Show on Thursday.
“To have someone kidnapped, detained for so long and attacked very violently is very special.”
Brazil has one of the highest crime rates in the world, with epidemic levels of violent crime and homicide.
Organized crime in South America’s largest country has increased in recent years and violence between rival groups is a regular occurrence.
Criminologist Xanthe Mallet compared the violent alleged kidnapping of Peter Vuong to gang-related crime in Brazil (Brazil Police Photo)
Ms Mallet said she believed the types of crime associated with gang-related crime in Australia have changed in recent years.
“We see people being shot in the street, total disregard for the public, for families,” she said.
“I think the police are concerned about the different types of violence because the rules seem to have been thrown out in some of these organized gangs.”
Ms Mallet said Mr Vuong’s alleged kidnapping was “deeply frightening”.
“I’m sure everyone in Sydney and especially that neighborhood will be blown away by this,” she said.
A number of high-profile gang-related crimes have dominated the news over the past 12 months, including the brutal execution-style shooting of famed driver Taha Sabbagh less than two weeks ago.
Crime expert Xanthe Mallet (pictured) said the types of crime associated with gang-related crime in Australia have changed in recent years
Ms Mallet said police would keep the investigations related to Mr Vuong “hidden” so that criminals would not learn their methods, but she expected more details to come out “in the coming days”.
Daily Mail Australia revealed on Monday that security cameras had been set up at the Smithfield home where Mr Vuong had been snatched last Wednesday – the day before the early morning abduction.
Neighbors said floodlights had also been set up around the perimeter of the house in recent weeks.
Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia show that resident of the Smithfield home, Timothy Bowyer, was injured during the alleged kidnapping at his parents’ home.
Police will also claim that the group demanded that another man, who trades crypto and works as a real estate investor, cough up $5 million. He is believed to be a relative of the Bowyer family.
The men reportedly sent the unnamed crypto trader a series of text messages on an encrypted device threatening to kill Mr Vuong if their demands were not met.
It was alleged that Mr. Vuong’s kidnappers wanted revenge for a drug deal gone wrong (picture of Mr. Vuong)
Six men have been charged in connection with the incident, with police alleging the group kidnapped and then physically assaulted Mr Vuong, who was held for ransom against his will
Police are investigating whether Mr. Vuong, who has no criminal record other than minor historical traffic violations, was the intended target of the alleged attack.
The accused kidnappers allegedly retaliated against a drug deal involving one of his relatives that had gone wrong.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Mr Vuong, the Bowyers or their crypto trader relative are involved in any crime or the alleged botched drug deal.
Mr. Vuong found himself in a dilapidated building at Belmore’s nearby home after several days of police operation.
He was checked at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Six men have been charged in connection with the incident, with police alleging the group kidnapped and then physically assaulted Mr Vuong, who was held for ransom against his will.
Viliami Siasau, 19, Valali Tonga, 20, Sunia Siasau, 20, and John Totau Fahamokioa, 20, faced Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday, while Lolo Liavaa, 19, and Kitueau Tatafu, 21, appeared in Parramatta Local Court.
Fahamokioa was granted bail under strict conditions and bail was denied for Siasau, Tonga, Saisau, Kitueau and Tatafu.
All men must appear for the next match on May 10.