# Organized crime violence in Sydney

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/organized-crime-violence-in-sydney
> Updated: 2026-09-03T02:08:51.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Sydney is experiencing a period of violent crime linked to organized crime and the drug trade. In one instance, police arrested a 31-year-old man following a 14-month investigation into a June 2025 daylight shooting at an Auburn kebab shop. The attack, involving two masked gunmen, resulted in injuries to three people, including a woman shot four times in the torso. Authorities identified the second gunman as having died in a motor vehicle accident in Thailand.

More recently, a surge in suspected mistaken-identity shootings has occurred. Within a 48-hour window, two individuals—a 23-year-old student and a man in his 40s—were shot dead in separate incidents in Glen Alpine and Merrylands West. Investigators believe the victims may have been the wrong targets, as they lacked significant criminal connections. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon condemned the killings, noting that since 2020, 41 murders have been attributed to the city’s underworld violence. Law enforcement is currently pursuing technological solutions and international cooperation to combat organized crime operations believed to be directed from abroad.

## Claims

- Marco Tapia, a 23-year-old student, was shot dead during a home invasion in Glen Alpine on Tuesday. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- A man in his 40s was shot dead in Merrylands West on Wednesday. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Police are investigating whether both victims were targets of mistaken identity. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The victim in the Merrylands West shooting had no known links to organised crime but was associated with residents of the property. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that the murder of two innocent people would not be tolerated. (single source)
- Police believe a large majority of organised crime offences are being orchestrated from abroad. (single source)
- There have been 41 murders attributed to Sydney underworld violence since 2020. (single source)
- Taskforce Falcon head Jason Box rejected claims that police have lost control of Sydney streets. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-03: Sydney police investigate two suspected mistaken-identity shootings

Sydney police are investigating two suspected mistaken-identity shootings that occurred within 48 hours, killing a 23-year-old student and a man in his 40s, amid rising concerns over underworld violence.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sydney-police-crack-down-on-organized-crime-following-fatal-shootings

### 2026-08-28: Sydney police arrest suspect in Auburn kebab shop shooting

A 31-year-old man has been arrested for an attempted murder shooting at a Western Sydney kebab shop in June 2025 that left three people injured.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sydney-police-arrest-suspect-in-auburn-kebab-shop-shooting

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Cite as: Organized crime violence in Sydney. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/organized-crime-violence-in-sydney