An encrypted phone network allegedly used by Sydney's underworld to orchestrate murders, kidnappings and drug deals has been infiltrated by NSW Police after they arrested four men accused of running the "VIP Network".
Organised crime detectives have alleged the organised criminal syndicate known as the VIP Network operated as a commercial enterprise, importing specialised mobile devices from China.
The phones are equipped with international e-sims, have the hardware modified including disabling the front-facing camera to evade law enforcement detection, and have encryption software and device-wiping tools downloaded onto them.
They are then sold to gangsters to be used in serious criminal activity.
Police said the syndicate had raked in an estimated $2 million from the sale of about 1,000 devices each year with about 3,000 suspected to have been distributed across the state.
Devices found by NSW Police as part of the raids. (Supplied: NSW Police)
It is alleged the devices allowed offshore underworld figures to facilitate large-scale drug supply, kidnappings and murders in Sydney while avoiding the detection of law enforcement.
On Thursday night, police dropped in on the once-hidden encrypted group chats, sending a stern message to the "majority" of users of the devices that authorities were watching them.
"NSW Police have linked this Signal or Threema account with the VIP Phones encrypted phone supplier," the message read.
"Detectives from State Crime Command will continue to identify, investigate and prosecute all person connected with the VIP Phones Criminal Network."
The syndicate amassed an estimated $2 million from the phone sales. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Commander of the force's organised crime squad, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said police had received a number of "mixed" responses to the message, including justification and concern.
"We want these people to know we now know they have a device and it's highly likely they're using that device to carry out serious crime," he said.
"[But] We're not looking at the actual network across communication platforms, we've been looking at these people are distributors of the devices which these platforms operate on."
Arrests made this week
The ABC previously revealed that so-called violence brokers had become a powerful figure in offshore entities outsourcing acts of violence to contract criminals through encrypted group chats.
An independent broker is commissioned to recruit individuals to carry out tasks like stealing a car, obtaining a firearm or being a member of a so-called kill crew in exchange for money.
Police launched an investigation about 18 months ago into suppliers of dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices (DECCD) to organised crime networks, identifying VIP Network in the process.
"We're alleging VIP Network is one of Australia's largest suppliers of DECCDs," Superintendent Faux said, calling the devices a "lifeline" for organised crime networks.
Police have intercepted close to 100 devices linked to the network over the past six months, and after several raids in Sydney's south, arrested four men on Thursday.
"The four people arrested yesterday we're alleging are involved in the distribution network of the devices here onshore in New South Wales and in Australia," Superintendent Faux said.
"We believe they're being co-ordinated by someone offshore, they're importing devices where specific aspects of the hardware are being modified and they're provisioning the devices ... to enable cryptic communication, and then they're distributing the devices."
Three men have been charged by police. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Superintendent Faux said dismantling the network had eliminated criminals' communication system.
"This operation has struck at the heart of a criminal network that was allegedly deliberately arming organised crime groups with the tools to conceal their offending," he said.
Three men, aged, 25, 26 and 29, were charged with participating in a criminal group and possessing dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices after being arrested during raids on Thursday morning.
Another 26-year-old man was later arrested and charged with a number of offences.
All four men appeared in court on Friday and were granted bail.