A man who crawled out of a shallow grave with a bullet lodged in his brain is among the victims of a criminal gang who went on a six-day rampage across multiple states.

The incidents include the kidnapping and torture of one man and the murder of another in NSW, along with the attempted murder in Queensland.

Investigators believe the incidents in July 2024 are linked to a Victorian drug-trafficking syndicate and are examining whether a “contract crew” is responsible.

In one incident, a 23-year-old man arrived at a service station in the small Queensland town of Jimboomba covered in dirt.

Despite suffering a gunshot wound, he asked staff not to call for help before he collapsed.

A trip to hospital confirmed he had been shot through the eye and had a bullet lodged in his brain.

Police believe he was shot and buried alive, with his attackers unaware he was still breathing.

“It’s absolutely surprising that he did survive,” NSW Police Detective Superintendent Joseph Doueihi said on Monday.

“The bullet lodged in his brain and for someone to survive that is a miracle.”

But the unlikely story of survival was just one event in a six-day string of carnage, which included the killing of Rich Choup.

Trail bike riders found the 32-year-old’s remains on August 21, 2024, at Lucas Heights, in Sydney’s south.

He had been shot and had the top of one ear severed, an autopsy found.

Police believe Choup was a member of the drug-trafficking syndicate but had fallen foul of its higher-ups.

CCTV footage released by police showed a man slap the victim across the face, but he did not resist or attempt to flee.

Choup was reported missing days later.

His body was not found for weeks, but police believe he was murdered shortly after his disappearance.

In a third incident, a 31-year-old was allegedly kidnapped from south-west Sydney.

He also had part of his ear cut off before being released.

He did not report the matter to police, but months later officers raided the Canley Vale property where the alleged torture happened.

“Unfortunately, it’s been seen quite often now that part of their torturing technique is to sever ears and fingers and toes,” Doueihi said.

While the exact nature of the dispute was yet to be determined, it might relate to missing drugs or money.

“If I was a betting man, that’s what I would say the situation was,” Doueihi said.

Police have released CCTV of three cars allegedly involved in the incidents, including a grey Audi they think might have been used in the Sydney kidnapping and Choup’s death.

NSW Premier Chris Minns called the attackers “animals” and said the public was horrified by the crimes.

“There is absolutely no tolerance for this kind of shocking violent behaviour [but] police have got a good record of smashing up organised crime and violent gangs,” he said.

-AAP