The Sydney Morning Herald
The execution of a cocaine kingpin in the basement of a Bondi apartment block was the trigger for a month-long round of shootings and killings, with two men losing their lives on Thursday as warring gangs vied to control Sydney’s drug market.
Now NSW Police, under pressure to prove they have “control of the streets”, have wrapped eight separate strike force investigations together into a single taskforce in an urgent attempt to staunch the bloodletting.
Taskforce Magnus, announced on Thursday, will comprise 70 detectives, to pool resources and information about the violence that followed the death of cocaine kingpin Alen Moradian last month.
NSW Police said the taskforce is being led by State Crime Command and will “examine the links between the shootings dating back to that of Moradian”.
The detectives will be sourced primarily from the eight existing strike forces. A further 20 detectives have been assigned, and the NSW Crime Commission and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission will also offer expertise.
An additional 30 officers also will be designated to “proactive” duties in south-west Sydney, including street patrols.
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