Other MoA event in Australia on Mon 20th April 2026

Four men and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested after allegedly kidnapping a controversial rapper's bodyguard in Sydney's west overnight.

NSW Police said a man in his 30s was assaulted and forced into his own car outside a home in Guildford about 11:30pm on Monday before the vehicle was found partially burnt-out in nearby Villawood a short time later.

About an hour later, heavily armed officers zeroed in on a property in Casula where they rescued the man who was then taken to hospital with facial injuries.

Four men aged in their 20s and one 17-year-old were arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Police Station where inquiries are continuing.

The man allegedly kidnapped was Emilio Chalhoub, who is believed to be the personal bodyguard for rapper and alleged Alameddine associate Ali Younes, who performs under the name "Ay Huncho".

Detective Superintendent Jason Box said the connection between the men was under investigation.

He said some of the men arrested had little to no criminal history, a trend that had emerged in recent months.

"Over the last 18 months in particular, we have seen persons with minimal criminal history being contracted to commit these offences," he said.

Mr Chalhoub was previously the intended target of a failed hit in June last year when a 15 and 22-year-old allegedly stabbed his 62-year-old father Bassam at their Guildford home.

"He's fully aware of risk. We believe the victim from this morning was the intended target then," Superintendent Box said.

"So he's fully aware of the risk due to association and being at that premises."

Monday's alleged targeted abduction came after a string of retaliation attacks including shootings and firebombings over the past week which had been linked to the Alameddine crime network and rival gangs.

Mr Younes himself had repeatedly been targeted as part of a sprawling feud involving Sydney crime gangs.

In September last year a Merrylands home associated with the rapper was shot at in an incident where a 15-year-old boy inside the property was one of three people to survive the attack unscathed.

Mr Younes had been named in two unrelated court cases as an associate of the Alameddines and joined the clan's boss Rafat Alameddine when he fled to Lebanon in early 2023.