Police probe suspected international crime boss’ links to Sydney day care kill plot

An international crime syndicate allegedly helmed by a man formerly of Sydney is suspected of being linked to a recent surge of gang-related violence, including a foiled alleged murder plot outside a day care centre.

Daniel Rodney Badger, 40, has emerged as a key suspect in Sydney’s underworld and its ongoing conflicts after detectives seized $260 million worth of drugs allegedly belonging to his syndicate.

On Wednesday, the Herald revealed Badger’s syndicate was believed to have ordered the murder of Sydney woman Thi Kim Tran after her husband was accused of stealing 80 kilograms of methamphetamine from the group.

Law enforcement sources told this masthead that while there was no evidence that Badger personally ordered the killing, the 40-year-old’s syndicate, for which Tran’s husband was allegedly working as a methamphetamine cook, was believed to have hired contractors to carry out her execution.

In August, homicide squad detectives arrested The Anh Nguyen, who police allege is a senior member of Badger’s syndicate, and charged him with the 45-year-old’s murder. He was also charged over the alleged attack on an eight-year-old boy who was struck over the head with a baseball bat during Tran’s abduction.

Detectives are now investigating Badger’s suspected links to a number of other violent incidents that have placed secretive Vietnamese organised crime gangs which have long flown under the radar back in the spotlight in recent months.

Organised crime squad commander Peter Faux said he believed it was “highly likely” Badger’s syndicate was linked to a foiled alleged plot to murder a Sydney father as he collected his children from a Revesby day care centre last Tuesday.

Authorities believe Badger, who is believed to be based in Vietnam, is one of the biggest manufacturers and importers of methamphetamine into Australia.

“The drugs being imported into the country are generating large amounts of money, which generates conflict. The firearms that are coming into the country, that are made overseas, they’re being used around that conflict,” Faux said.

“So we’re really focusing on stopping the crimes of violence.”

Badger, who relocated to Vietnam from western Sydney with his then-partner almost a decade ago, has long been of interest to law enforcement agencies.

In sweeping raids on Tuesday afternoon, organised crime squad detectives working under Strike Force Barberton raided five properties in Mays Hill, Bankstown, Campsie and Bonnyrigg Heights that police allege were being used as safe houses by a criminal group working for Badger’s syndicate.

NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission launched the strike force earlier this year to investigate drug supply across the state allegedly being co-ordinated by Badger’s syndicate.

Police seized more than 415 kilograms of illicit drugs, including 287 kilograms of methamphetamine, 47 kilograms of cocaine, 81 kilograms of heroin and 838 grams of MDMA. Police allege the drugs have a street value of $260 million.

They also seized three handguns, believed to have been imported from overseas, more than 300 rounds of ammunition and a bulletproof vest. Footage of the raids shows heavily armed officers wearing ventilation masks storming the properties on Tuesday afternoon.

Detectives arrested two alleged members of a group police say was working under the direction of Badger’s syndicate, Jamey Le Tran, 26, and Edward Huynh, 19, at a Mays Hill property allegedly being used as a safe house.

Both were charged with two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, and one count each of participating in a criminal group. Tran did not apply for bail in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, while Huynh was refused bail. Both were remanded in custody to reappear in the same court on December 11.

Faux alleged Tran and Huynh had several kilograms of cocaine and heroin on them when they were arrested.

A third man, aged 26, was arrested at a Bonnyrigg Heights property allegedly being used as a safe house. He was charged with two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and dealing with property alleged to be the proceeds of crime.

Faux said further arrests under Strike Force Barberton, which was established to investigate violent crimes linked to South-East Asian organised crime, were expected.

“We believe there are other people involved,” Faux said.

“We’ve got overwhelming amounts of data and evidence, intelligence that we’re reviewing after last night and there will be other people charged and there will be further offences in relation to what we’ve seized.”

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