Five men 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 a 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.
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Just nowTue 21 Apr 2026 at 4:22am
Victim intended target of attack last year
Superintendent Box said Mr Chalhoub was the intended target in an attack where his father was stabbed last year.
His 62-year-old father Bassam sustained stab wounds after a 15-year-old boy and 22-year-old man stormed a home at Guidlford in June.
“He’s fully aware of risk … we believe the victim from this morning was the intended target then,” he said.
“So he’s fully aware of the risk due to association and being at that premises.”
4m agoTue 21 Apr 2026 at 4:18am
Criminal histories being looked at
Given a sprawling series of tit-for-tat attacks among several of Sydney’s crime gangs, police are still looking into who is behind the attack.
“We’re looking at the links between these five men,” Supt Box said.
“As I said, four adults and one is a juvenile.
“Some have minimal, if not existing criminal history, and some have a reasonable criminal history. So we are looking at their connection firstly and then secondly why they committed this offense and who for.”
8m agoTue 21 Apr 2026 at 4:15am
Police tracked alleged kidnappers by PolAir
Superintendent Box said Mr Chalhoub was snatched and bundled into his own car last night at Guildford and assaulted with a baseball bat before the car was torched.
Officers later zeroed in on a property in Casula where they rescued Mr Chalhoub.
“[A] response by PolAir and local police identified the premises where the victim was being located,” Supt Box said.
11m agoTue 21 Apr 2026 at 4:12am
One of five in custody a minor
One of those in the process of being charged is a minor, Superintendent Box said.
The man allegedly kidnapped last night is Emelio Chalhoub.
Police believe he was assaulted and bundled into a car at Guildford about 11.30pm Monday.
Police were able to free Mr Chalhoub from his captors during a police operation.
He is reportedly a bodyguard for Alameddine crime family associate, and rapper, Ali Younes.
Mr Chalhoub was the intended target of an attack in Guildford last year when the perpetrators instead stabbed his 62-year-old father at a home.
26m agoTue 21 Apr 2026 at 3:56am
Police update to begin shortly
Taskforce Falcon Commander, Detective Superintendent Jason Box will provide an update shortly after police arrested five men in relation to the alleged abduction of a Sydney rapper’s bodyguard overnight.
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.
Five men were arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Police Station where inquiries are continuing.
The ABC understands 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”.
“Ay Huncho”, aka Ali Younes, an alleged Alameddine associate who has been repeatedly targeted over the past year. (Four Corners: Nick Wiggins)
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.
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.
A crime scene was set up. (ABC News: Gavin Coote)
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.