A teenage boy has been arrested and charged, accused of running an alleged hitman syndicate overseas that police allege he operated from his family home.
The 15-year-old foreign national was arrested at a western Sydney home on Wednesday morning.
Australian Federal Police officers executed a search warrant at the home and seized electronic devices, which will undergo forensic examination.
Police will allege the teen used an encrypted application to facilitate plans for overseas contract killings in Europe on behalf of a transnational criminal syndicate.
AFP were first alerted to the alleged activity by Danish Police earlier this month.
'Crime-as-a-service contract killings involve individuals or groups outsourcing criminal activities to third parties and using online platforms and social media to plan and execute the illegal acts,' a AFP statement read.
The 15-year-old boy was charged under both Australian and Danish law.
Under the Australian Criminal Code, he was charged with one count of using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely conspiracy to murder.
A teenager was arrested in western Sydney on Wednesday over an alleged hitman syndicate police claim he ran from his family home
The 15-year-old boy (pictured with police) was charged under both Australian and Danish law
Australian Federal Police officers seized electronic devices during a search warrant of the western Sydney home
Under the Danish Penal Code, he was charged with using a device connected to a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence, namely murder.
Both charges carry a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
The boy appeared in Surry Hills Children's Court on Wednesday, where he was refused bail.
He is scheduled to reappear before the same court on June 11.
AFP Commander Brett James warned criminals using encrypted chat services that law enforcement will always be a step ahead.
'The AFP regularly works with foreign policing partners, such as the Danish Police, and the identification of these alleged international criminal links is a testament to the enduring partnership and collaboration between our agencies,' he said.
'If you think you can use geography to evade law enforcement, you're mistaken.
'The AFP and its partners are always watching, sharing intelligence and ready to apprehend those who wish to harm our communities.'
Australian and Danish police allege the teenage used encrypted messaging services to organise hits. Pictured are some of the electronic devices seized during the search warrant
The 15-year-old foreign national faced two charges, both of which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment
The boy was refused bail when he appeared in Surry Hills Children's Court on Wednesday
Danish Police Deputy Chief Superintendent of the National Special Crime Unit, Lars Feldt-Rasmussen attributed the arrest to close and effective cooperation between Australian, Swedish and Danish police.
'While in Australia, the young man is suspected of having attempted to recruit people to commit contract killings in Denmark and Sweden as part of ongoing gang conflicts in the Nordic region,' he said.
'This case highlights our collaborative and effective international police cooperation and shows that we are united in our fight against cross-border crime.'
