Police sting smashes Sydney’s top underworld ‘murder phone’ supplier

Sydney’s crime networks have had their communication lines severed after police dismantled the state’s largest supplier of “murder phones”, sending a text directly to thousands of alleged criminals in the process.

NSW Police established Strike Force Harskamp in April last year to investigate the VIP Network, a group suspected of importing communication devices from overseas, encrypting them, and selling them for use in criminal activity.

Investigators will allege the VIP Network sold about 1000 devices a year for $2000 each, bringing in an estimated annual haul of $2 million.

The highly customised phones are stripped of their forward-facing cameras, use completely unregistered SIM cards, and feature a secure dead-switch function designed to wipe the phone if the wrong passcode is entered.

It will be further alleged that the devices were used by the buyers to plan crimes, including drug supply, murder, and kidnapping.

Superintendent Peter Faux said that organised crime groups “need these devices to communicate with, coordinate with, and operate their business”.

“We’re alleging these devices have been used in numerous of the worst crimes that can be committed,” he said.

Faux said more than 3000 Chinese-made mobile devices loaded with encrypted operating systems, directly for Sydney’s underworld and distributed by VIP had been identified.

He said authorities believed the network was being coordinated by offshore criminals.

In the past month, police intercepted more than 60 devices and accessories from search warrants in Botany and Banksmeadow.

And at about 7am on Thursday, police carried out three search warrants in Kogarah, Bexley, and Rockdale, seizing a further 35 devices, almost $35,000 in cash, and luxury watches.

Two men, aged 25 and 26, were arrested in Kogarah, and a 29-year-old man was arrested in Bexley.

All three were charged with participating in a criminal group, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and possessing encrypted devices for criminal purposes.

They were all refused bail and will appear in court today.

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On Thursday evening, after the arrests, police broadcast a message across the VIP Network’s web of encrypted devices — the unwelcome message intended to be received by every “murder phone”.

“NSW Police Force has linked this Signal or Threema account with the VIP Phones encrypted phone supplier,” it read.

“Detectives from State Crime Command will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute all persons connected with the VIP Phones Criminal Network.”

“These devices will now be a part of the ongoing investigation as to who is using them and what they are doing,” Faux said.

Police allege that rival gangs, including the Alameddines, the Coconut Cartel, and the emerging Badger network, have all been heavily relying on these exact VIP encrypted devices to conduct Sydney’s bloody ongoing turf war.

“By dismantling this network, detectives have removed a key enabler of organised crime in NSW and reaffirmed our commitment to disrupting those who believe they can hide behind technology.”

“Without these devices, it’s extremely challenging for these criminals to coordinate these crimes.”