Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged a sixth male for their alleged involvement in the Mt Pritchard kidnapping earlier this year.
About 6.15am on Tuesday 24 February 2026, officers attached to Fairfield Police Area Command received a report a 53-year-old man had been taken from outside a tobacconist on Meadows Road in Mt Pritchard.
Police were told four unknown males in balaclavas approached the man before assaulting him and forcing him into a Hyundai hatchback.
State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad was notified and commenced a covert operation to recover the victim under Strike Force Martinook.
On Thursday 26 February 2026, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit – attended a property in Dural, where police recovered the 53-year-old man.
A teenager and four men have previously been charged and remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, just before 10.45am yesterday (Monday 29 June 2026) strike force detectives arrested a 25-year-old man in Artarmon.
A subsequent search warrant was executed in Holsworthy, where police seized an allegedly stolen BMW SUV and other items relevant to their investigation.
The man was taken to Chatswood Police Station, where he was charged with
- Take or detain in company with intent to ransom occasion actual bodily harm
- Possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner
- Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity
- Use false document to obtain financial advantage, and
- Goods suspected stolen in or on premises (motor vehicle).
He was refused bail to appear at Hornsby Local Court today (Tuesday 30 June 2026).
Strike Force Martinook inquiries are ongoing.
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.
