Three alleged gang members have been accused of doing contract work as criminal networks outsource violent offences to distance themselves from the illegal acts.
In what authorities have labelled a major blow to organised crime, NSW Police's Raptor Squad arrested two 20-year-olds and an 18-year-old in western Sydney on Wednesday after executing search warrants at five different houses across the area.
Police link the men to a "freelance" gang they claim conducted shootings, home invasions, kidnappings and drug trafficking on behalf of other organised criminal networks.
Detective Superintendent Jason Box said the gang was allegedly involved in a public-place shooting at Austral in southwest Sydney on July 25, where at least nine shots were fired.
“There was total disregard for public safety, they were quite happy to act on the instructions of others to commit these serious offences,” he said on Thursday.
“(The arrests) have taken a very dangerous criminal element off the streets.”
Police allege the 20-year-old Fairfield West man led the gang and took on the gigs on its behalf.
Det Supt Box wouldn't reveal how much the criminal services cost for fear it would encourage rival gangs.
But he said police were looking into a wider trend of groups being hired to carry out offences, which made it harder for the crimes to be linked to those commissioning them.
“(Criminals are) looking at many ways they can conduct these acts without being detected and utilising other people ... distances themselves,” he said.
“They've offered and conducted serious, violent offences like home invasions, public place shootings.
"I don't think there's any parameter of what acts they're willing to conduct, it's quite obvious that from the most extreme they were willing to accept them.”
The arrested trio are allegedly linked to a home invasion and kidnapping at Edmondson Park on August 14.
All three were charged with participating in a criminal group, with the Fairfield West man facing extra charges of aggravated breaking and entering while armed with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping with intent to cause serious bodily harm.
The Lakemba man faces charges of drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
All three will remain in custody after two had bail applications refused, while the other did not apply for release during appearances on Thursday.
