Homicide Squad detectives have charged an additional five people allegedly a part of the joint criminal enterprise responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a 45-year-old woman in Sydney's south west last year.
About 10.30pm on Thursday 17 April 2025, police were called to a home in Bankstown following reports of a kidnapping.
Officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command arrived and were told a group of unknown people had forced their way into a home before allegedly kidnapping a 45-year-old woman.
During the incident police were told the alleged kidnappers – who were armed with a firearm – assaulted an eight-year-old boy with a baseball bat before forcing the woman into an SUV.
The boy was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for head injuries before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
A 15-year-old boy who was also in the home at the time was taken to hospital for assessment.
About 11.30pm the same day, emergency services were called to Welfare Avenue in Beverley Hills, following reports of a car fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews extinguished the blaze; however, the vehicle was destroyed.
Following an examination of the vehicle, police located the body of a 45-year-old woman inside.
She has since been identified as Thi Kim Tran.
A crime scene was established at both locations and Strike Force Bushfield was established by State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to investigate the incident.
Inquiries established the woman and children were likely targeted as a result of her partner's involvement with an Organised Criminal Network (OCN) based in Victoria.
Four people have previously been charged and remain before the courts.
About 9.50am on Friday 16 January 2026, strike force detectives arrested a 22-year-old man at Sydney Airport.
He was taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with murder, two counts of conspire and agree to murder any person, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, and two counts of fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Local Court 7 on Saturday 17 January 2026, where police alleged the man was involved in criminal enterprise responsible for Ms Tran's murder.
As inquiries continued, detectives identified a second alleged crew who, that same night, waited at a rural property in Victoria for Ms Tran's husband with the intention of killing him.
When he failed to appear, Sydney-based offenders allegedly kidnapped Ms Tran in a bid to force his compliance, before ultimately killing her.
About 6.50am on Tuesday 16 December 2025, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant in Monterey.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Hurstville Police Station, where he was charged with murder, two counts of conspire and agree to murder any person, possess unauthorised firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was refused bail and appeared before Sutherland Local Court the same day.
About 6.25am on Saturday 21 February 2026, strike force detectives arrested a 30-year-old man at Sydney Airport.
He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where he was charged with murder, two counts of conspire and agree to murder any person, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The man was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Local Court 7 on Sunday 22 February 2026.
On Wednesday 18 March 2026, strike force detectives arrested two men – aged 18 and 25 – in Silverwater and Lithgow.
The men were charged with murder, two counts of conspire and agree to murder any person and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
They were refused bail and appeared in Bail Division Local Court 6 the same day.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
