<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are investigating a "contract crew" believed to be responsible for incidents of torture and murder across two states.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Investigators say the crew may be linked to three incidents, which may be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Friday, July 19, 2024, a 31-year-old man was kidnapped from south-west Sydney.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/car-ends-up-in-yard-after-road-rage/cmcri4vhl001g0hmhvnlc7oly" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Car ends up in yard after 'road rage'</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The kidnappers tortured the man and cut off part of his ear before releasing him later the same day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The incident was not reported to police, but detectives carried out a crime scene warrant on Thursday, October 10 last year, at a Canley Vale property where the man is believed to have been held.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officers seized a box cutter for forensic analysis.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rich-choup-murder-contract-crew-sought-over-death-torture-incidents-in-nsw-queensland/7270a0e4-7d13-4f62-bea1-39d74cb95ec7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-man-killed-struck-by-bus-at-taronga-zoo/a059e633-1a7a-4e4d-a8b4-8e8870a3ff61" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Extraordinary figure' in motorsport killed in Taronga Zoo bike crash</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Investigators have now released CCTV of two cars, a dark Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf, travelling together at the intersection of Freeman Avenue and Sackville Street in Canley Vale, around the time of the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a second incident on Saturday, July 21, a man who was covered in dirt and suffering a gunshot wound entered a service station on Tamborine Street in Jimboomba, south of Brisbane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He asked the staff to not call emergency services, but then collapsed, prompting them to seek help.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/alleged-arson-attack-on-synagogue-in-melbourne/41ffd37f-7158-4355-8dd3-ad1c1702e8e2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Man charged after Melbourne synagogue fire</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital, where it was found he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police believe the man was shot and buried, with those responsible likely unaware he had crawled out of his shallow grave.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have now released CCTV of a white Hyundai Getz seen at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast at about 5.30am on Saturday, July 20, 2024, the day before the man entered the Jimboomba servo.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Four male passengers are also seen. One is believed to be the victim of the attempted murder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a third incident, at about 4.40pm on Saturday, August 31, 2024, police were called to bushland off Heathcote Road at Lucas Heights in Sydney's south, after trail bike riders discovered human remains.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The remains were confirmed to be those of Rich "Dylan" Choup, a 32-year-old man reported missing on Monday, July 29, 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Choup had been fatally shot and the top of his right ear had been severed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Choup was last seen at about 6.10pm on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Cabramatta, where he told friends he had a meeting and asked them to wait nearby.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At about 6.25pm, CCTV showed Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade. The other man appeared to reprimand and slap him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both men were then seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have also released CCTV of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two men seen on CCTV moving the cars before and after Choup's disappearance, are also of interest to police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anybody with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or </span><a href="https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="online"><span>online</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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