Gangland Wars and Taskforce Erebus

Over the recent months, Sydney’s streets have been exposed to a range of gangland activities with underworld affiliates igniting fatal shootings in the streets of Sydney’s inner west. These violent outbreaks are described to be a ‘course of rampant serious and violent criminality'[1] that are exposing our streets to a gangland war.

As a response to the ongoing fatalities, the NSW Police Force announced a new taskforce labelled ‘Taskforce Erebus’ which was established to target associates involved in the brutal shootings and the ongoing organised criminal gang activity that is constantly occurring on Sydney’s streets.

Taskforce Erebus is supported by the State Crime Command under the National Organised Crime Response Plan. The taskforce aims to utilise current operational police departments such as Raptor and further draw upon the Police Intelligence Unit, to examine the recent shootings, importation of illicit substances and illegal firearms ‘to protect innocent people’[2] who are unavoidably becoming involved.

Since its introduction in October 2021, NSW Police are consecutively monitoring criminal gang associates, with over 230 people being arrested and an additional 840 individuals being charged with offences relating to their involvement[3]. In addition, the taskforce has also uncovered ‘almost 70 firearms, 3000 rounds of ammunition, $2.5 million cash drugs worth more than $4m’[4].

However, there has been circulating criticism of the Erebus taskforce, with many debating that this isn’t the first time the Government have formulated a taskforce to make arrests. It has been argued that the formulation of such a taskforce will grant police powers that ability to arrest, stop, search, and enter premises that extends outside their discretionary powers. The community’s response is one nothing short of affirmative when it comes to such powers being discussed as concerns arise over the connection between the gangland feuds becoming more brutal and violent.

[1] Nino Bucci, ‘More shootings on Sydney’s streets and yet more police powers – but to what end’, (The Guardian, 23 May 2022)

[2] Carla Hildebrant, ‘NSW Police announces Taskforce Erebus to combat Western Sydney gang violence’, (ABC News, 16 May 2022)

[3] Australian Associated Press, ‘Special police taskforce established to tackle escalating gang violence in NSW’, (The Guardian, May 16 2022)

[4] Mark Morri, ‘Police force ‘super ‘task force’ Erebus in wake of Ahmad, Zahed gangland executions’ (Daily Telegraph, May 16 2022)

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