In an incredible turn of events, a man accused of being involved in a violent kidnapping plot was ambushed by heavily-armed police outside a home in Sydney’s south-west.
The police stormed the property to rescue a victim who was allegedly held against his will for ransom, and who also had his teeth ripped out during a five-day ordeal.
The dramatic rescue took place after dozens of heavily-armed tactical officers and police dogs swarmed a property on Canterbury Road in Belmore, hurling flash grenades.
The arrest of the accused was captured on footage, in which a silver car was seen pulling up outside a house in Chelmsford Avenue where it was ambushed by a throng of officers.
Two men from the vehicle were later searched by officers before they were arrested and marched into waiting police vans to be driven away. Four men were arrested at the Canterbury Road property and a further two were nabbed by officers a few streets away.
All six have since been charged, with police alleging that the group abducted and then physically abused a 26-year-old man who they detained against his will for ransom.
The alleged kidnapping victim, who was rescued on Tuesday, is believed to be related to a suspect caught up in a drug deal gone wrong. Neighbours said they heard what sounded like a fight in the street and ran outside to find the area swarming with police.
Despite the derelict state of the property, it appears to be well protected with security cameras at the front and rear entrance. A neighbour said he had not seen anyone coming or going from the house where the alleged kidnapping took place for almost a year.
NSW Police said six men, aged between 19 and 21, had been charged after a man was allegedly kidnapped for ransom and detained for several days.
The 26-year-old man was ambushed by a group of armed men and forced out of a property in Smithfield, western Sydney, and into a vehicle, police said.
Detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad launched an investigation with officers breaking into a home in Belmore at about 5:15 pm on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old man was located inside the home and assessed by paramedics before being transported to hospital in a stable condition.
The six charged over the alleged kidnapping are Viliami Siasau, 19, Valali Tonga, 20, Sunia Siasau, 20, John Totau Fahamokioa, 20, Lolo Liavaa, 19, and Kitueau Tatafu, 21. They were each refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.
»NSW police arrest six men involved in kidnapping and physical abuse of 26-year-old man«