NSW Police have "supercharged" an anti-gang operation to put an end to the deadly underworld war that has rocked Sydney over the past 18 months.
Senior detectives believe they have now locked up most of the key players in the conflict between the Hamzy and Alameddine families which has claimed several lives and terrified innocent residents.
Operation Hawk was launched on Thursday morning, with up to 600 police officers tasked to "get in the face" of members of the two crime families.
Deputy Commissioner David Hudson revealed 80 of the suspected 300 affiliates of the gangs had now been arrested, promising "this is by no means the end" of the crackdown.
Police are focusing on raiding homes and have so far seized nine automatic weapons, 600 rounds of ammunition and 19 fake COVID vaccination certificates.
He said the activities of police in recent months had scuppered plans for further killings in the gangland war.
It comes a day after senior Hamzy family members Ibrahem Hamze, Haissam Hamzy and Tareek Hamzy faced court charged with an alleged kidnapping in Sydney's west last year.
Mr Hamze, 27, was also charged with directing the alleged attempted hit on an Alameddine associate at World Gym in Prospect in November.
Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said that "horrific" incident — which nearly ended in tragedy for children at a nearby creche — had been a catalyst in the escalation of police action to bring the conflict "to an end".
The war erupted in October 2020 over what police believe was a dispute about stolen drugs, and has already claimed the lives of senior Hamzy figures Mejid Hamzy, Bilal Hamze and Ghassan Amoun.
The state's gang-busting Raptor Squad has this week been bolstered with an additional 500 officers who will carry out the same high-visibility operations for the next two days.
Assistant Commissioner Smith said the operation was designed to "put [gang members] on notice that your day is coming".
"We're going to really get into the face of these people and we're going to remind them that this city's not their place," he said.
The State Crime Commander said recent arrests, which had snared so-called "controllers" from both families, meant their operations had "fallen to bits".
There were currently 25 police task forces working to solve outstanding murders, public shootings and other crimes, he said.
"We've got a long way to go ... but we're confident we're getting on top of this," he said.
Assistant Commissioner Smith said police would discuss with the immigration minister the possibility of deporting some of their targets.
He described the crime families' strategies of recruiting foot soldiers from street gangs including KVT and OneFour using "cash and rap music" as "no different to ISIS".
A pointed message was saved for the runaway Masood Zakaria, an alleged senior Alameddine figure, who police have been searching for since mid-December.
The 26-year-old is wanted for questioning by police over allegations including conspire to murder and directing a criminal group.
"Obviously you're a coward," Assistant Commissioner Smith said of Zakaria.
"You need to hand yourself in at the nearest available police station.
"We will obviously continue to pursue you. And if you go overseas, we'll pursue you there."
The senior detective also issued a warning to lower-level gang members planning on filling the leadership vacuum in the criminal networks.
"If you think you're an up-and-coming, you're going to get a visit," he said.
