18-Year-Old Arrested at Sydney Airport Over Alleged Organised Crime Links

An 18-year-old man has been arrested at Sydney International Airport after Australian police allegedly linked him to a major organised crime investigation involving suspected plans for murder, kidnappings, arson and illegal firearms activity.

The man, identified as Reece Fakhr, was arrested on Tuesday, October 6, after detectives from Taskforce Falcon and Strike Force Devion, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police, allegedly identified him as a key figure in an organised criminal network.

According to NSW Police, the investigation began in September after detectives seized an encrypted communications device during an unrelated crime investigation in Sydney’s northwest.

Police allege that forensic examination of the device uncovered information relating to a number of serious criminal offences, including alleged conspiracies to commit murder, kidnapping plans, arson offences and the supply of firearms.

Following weeks of investigation, officers arrested Fakhr at Sydney International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

He was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with 10 offences. The charges include alleged conspiracy to murder, encouraging or soliciting murder, directing the activities of a criminal group, recruiting others for criminal activity, conspiracy to detain a person and cause bodily harm, supplying pistols to unauthorised people and conspiracy to damage business premises by fire.

Police allege Fakhr was a “key player” in a high-profile organised crime network. Australian media have also reported that investigators believe his phone was connected to the scene of a separate shooting in Norwest.

However, ABC News reported that Fakhr has not been accused of involvement in the shooting or the death of the young boy. His alleged connection to the location reportedly formed part of the wider investigation.

After his arrest, Fakhr was refused bail and appeared before a bail court on Wednesday.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue examining the alleged criminal network and the information recovered from the encrypted device.

Fakhr has been charged but the allegations against him have not been proven in court.

Source: NSW Police, ABC News, News.com.au