The bloodied and blind-folded face of an ex-bikie was sent to his family and friends on the night he was allegedly kidnapped, demanding they pay a $100 million ransom.
Former Lone Wolf Dillon Mancuso, 37, was allegedly abducted at gunpoint and driven to a warehouse in Sydney’s south-west, where he was captive for six hours.
The terrifying torture photograph was allegedly taken as part of extortion plot shows Mancuso with duct tape over his eyes and mouth, blood streaming down his face from his mouth and nose, and significant swelling on his lip.
The ordeal only ended when heavily-armed tactical police stormed the building – which was allegedly set on fire by the gang – and rescued Mancuso in just his underpants.
The bloodied and blind-folded face of an ex-bikie Dillon Mancuso was sent to his family and friends on the night he was allegedly kidnapped, demanding they pay a $100million ransom
Investigators alleged a group of men – one armed with a gun – forced their way into a Bringelly in Sydney’s south-west about 3am on Tuesday and confronted Mancuso, and a 61-year-old man also inside.
The gang allegedly assaulted the older man before dragging Mancuso into a waiting vehicle outside the Jersey Road home.
Inquiries led detectives and the tactical operations unit officers to the industrial warehouse 28km away in Revesby later that day, where officers negotiated with the alleged kidnappers to release Mancuso.
There have been 10 men and teenager charged with kidnapping and a string of other offences.
In a text message which accompanied the gruesome photo was the greeting: ‘Hello brother’ with three smiley-face emojis.
It goes on to say ‘send to his friends who value his life and will negotiate. Send to his friends who value his life and will negotiate’, the Daily Telegraph reported
Fire can be seen billowing from the warehouse where a 37-year-old was allegedly being held
Police alleged the warehouse was set on fire as officers stormed the building.
Eight men were dragged from the industrial unit and arrested by tactical officers in dramatic scenes caught on camera.
Another three men were arrested after they allegedly arrived in a vehicle at the warehouse during the police operation.
Mancuso was filmed at the scene calmly resting on a police vehicle wearing white briefs following his harrowing ordeal.
He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his head, face and ribs, where he remains under police custody.
Seven males – two 23-year-olds and the others aged 16, 19, 22, 26 and 27 were later charged with kidnapping with intent to ransom resulting in actual bodily harm, break and enter, tampering with evidence, and participating in a gang.
They were refused bail and are due to appear at courts in Bankstown and Parramatta on Wednesday.
Investigators allege a group of men – one armed with a firearm – forced their way into a home in Bringelly in Sydney’s far south-west at about 3am on Tuesday and confronted a 37-year-old and a 61-year-old man who were inside
Another three men – aged 27, 28 and 30 charged with kidnapping and gang-related charges will appear at Parramatta Local Court.
A nearby office worker at an adjacent warehouse described the dramatic raid as it played out in the middle of the day.
‘I looked out the window and three cop cars were blocking the driveway and calling for the people in the unit to come out,’ the witness told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We sort of saw it coming. Those guys had been rolling around for a few months bringing in motorbikes and exotic cars and making a lot of noise.’
Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, robbery and serious crime squad commander, said ‘at this stage it appears there are some organised crime and bikie-related links’.
He added the abducted man was lucky to be alive.
‘The level of violence towards the alleged victim was quite severe and concerning. We believe it was completely targeted,’ Detective Superintendent Koutsoufis told reporters.
‘The incident was exceptionally dangerous and could have been even more severe, or even fatal.’
Inquiries into the incident are continuing.
Mancuso is facing charges including dealing with the proceeds of crime after Federal Police seized more than $1 million cash and three luxury cars valued at more than $100,000 each last year.
Dillion Mancuso was loaded onto a stretcher by paramedics and taken to hospital following the alleged kidnapping. Pictured are emergency services at the scene
Pictured: Marigold Street in Revesby. Tactical Operations Unit officers and police negotiators carried out inquiries before converging on an industrial warehouse on the suburban road