Homicide Squad detectives investigating the murder of Rich 'Dylan' Choup are appealing for information into two other violent incidents they believe could be linked.
Strike Force Hallet was established by State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to investigate a 'contract crew' allegedly responsible for the death of Mr Choup in July 2024, the kidnapping and torture of a man in Canley Vale, and the attempted murder of another man in Queensland – during which he was buried alive.
Police believe the three incidents occurred within a six-day period and may be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate.
Incident one – Kidnapping and torture of a man in Canley Vale.
On Friday 19 July 2024, detectives believe a 31-year-old man was kidnapped from south-west Sydney.
The man was allegedly tortured by his kidnappers and had part of his ear severed before being released later that same day.
Although the incident was not reported to police, detectives executed a crime scene warrant on Thursday 10 October 2024 at a Canley Vale property where the man is believed to have been held.
During the search, police located a box cutter which was seized for further forensic analysis.
As inquiries into this incident continue, detectives have released an image of the boxcutter, as well as CCTV of two vehicles travelling in convoy at the intersection of Freeman Avenue and Sackville Street in Canley Vale around the time of the incident.
The vehicles are described as a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf.
Incident two – Attempted murder of a man in Jimboomba, Queensland.
About 5am on Sunday 21 July 2024, a man – covered in dirt and allegedly suffering a gunshot wound – entered a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, Queensland.
Although the man asked staff not to call emergency services, he collapsed shortly after, prompting them to seek help.
The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital where it was established he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.
Queensland Police launched an investigation and continue to assist NSW Police Force with their inquiries.
Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he crawled out of his shallow grave to seek help a short time later.
As inquiries into this incident continue, police have released CCTV of a white Hyundai Getz seen at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the Mid North Coast about 5.30am on Saturday 20 July 2024 – the day before the attempted murder.
Four male passengers are also captured on CCTV. One is believed to be the victim, which suggests he may have been picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland where his attempted murder took place.
Incident three – Murder of Rich Choup
About 4.40pm on Saturday 31 August 2024, officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command were called to bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights after reports trail bike riders discovered human remains.
Local police established a crime scene and commenced initial inquiries before the matter was referred to State Crime Command's Homicide Squad under Strike Force Hallet.
The remains were later confirmed to be those of Rich 'Dylan' Choup – a 32-year-old man reporting missing to police on Monday 29 July 2024.
A post-mortem confirmed Mr Choup had been fatally shot and that the top of his right ear had been severed.
Mr Choup was last seen about 6.10pm on Thursday 25 July 2024 in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked they wait nearby.
About 6.25pm, CCTV captured Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, who appeared to reprimand and slap him.
Both men are then seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2.
As inquiries continue, police have released CCTV of the grey Audi SQ2 – potentially the same vehicle used in the kidnapping in Canley Vale a week earlier.
Detectives have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3.
The two males captured in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup's disappearance are also of interest to police.
Anyone with information about the vehicles or the men in the CCTV are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
