Homicide Squad detectives have charged three men over the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 45-year-old woman in Sydney's south west earlier this year under Strike Force Bushfield.
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.
In August, one man was charged over his alleged involvement and remains before the court.
Following extensive inquiries, from 9am yesterday (Thursday 23 October 2025), strike force detectives arrested three men, aged 32, 20 and 21, at Parramatta Police Station.
All three were charged with murder, conspire and agree to murder any person, wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnap in company with intent serious indictable occasion actual bodily harm, and participate in a criminal group.
Police will allege in court the men were part of a 'kill crew', tasked with finding and killing Ms Tran's husband, and when they couldn't find him, murdered Ms Tran and injured their son.
Investigations under Strike Force Bushfield 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.
