INSIDE THE UNDERWORLD: Former Gang Leader Breaks Silence on the Hidden Trap Luring Young Recruits
Exclusive: As Sydney’s underworld shifts its focus to younger recruits, a former prison gang leader has a stark warning for those tempted by money and street respect after spending more than two decades behind bars.
Gangster turned youth mentor Peter Vaiusu, also known as Triggz, told nine.com.au his entry into crime felt like a necessity rather than a choice after he had to assume the role of father at an early age.
Peter Vaiusu served a 10-year sentence at Goulburn Supermax. Peter Vaiusu
“I was trying to help my mum because she was struggling working three jobs, and there were four of us kids, my two brothers and my sister, they were all younger than me,” he said.
“I used to steal and put money in her bag, and then she would discover it, and would assume it was her money … she would think it was God-sent, but she didn’t realise it was me.”
While behind bars in 2002, the 42-year-old established Bloodline, one of the largest prison gangs in the country, and from 2007 to 2017, he served a hefty sentence at Goulburn Supermax.
Vaiusu’s long list of convictions include drug supply, participating in a criminal group and weapons offences.
However, after more than 20 years in and out of jail, he is now on a path to redemption, vowing to become a positive influence for today’s youth who may find themselves walking down the same path he did.
Vaiusu said his wife stuck with him through his 10-year sentence from 2007 to 2017 and through his last seven-year sentence from 2018 to 2025. Peter Vaiusu
“You are who you surround yourself with, so choose your circle wisely and do not be a follower, live, learn and make your every experience an education,” he said.
“If you’re gonna change, you gotta change wholeheartedly, just like when I said I was gonna gangster, I gangstered wholeheartedly.
“The main reason I chose to make a change in my life was that I experienced firsthand doing big time for my boys, and having only my wife and my parents go above and beyond for me while I was incarcerated.
“Mum and Dad travelled all the way up to Kempsey Prison by themselves, knowing they didn’t have the money for petrol, but they still came because that’s how much they wanted to show me that they loved me.
“My gang was there for the good times, we fought side-by-side during war on the streets and in prison, but their loyalty was limited, once I was incarcerated, or once they were released from prison, out of sight, out of mind.”
The former Bloodline leader now has an audience of nearly 90,000 followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, where he spreads the message of escaping the brutal underworld.
The former gang leader spent more than 20 years in and out of jail before turning his life around. Peter Vaiusu
His warning comes as gangland wars across Sydney continue to intensify, with police saying many young people are being lured over encrypted apps to commit thefts, violent crimes and shootings with the promise of money and respect.
Youth Off The Streets senior manager for housing and homelessness Fatina Eladb told nine.com.au she had also witnessed young people turning to crime after having to become their sole provider in their household.
“We’ve had a [16-year-old] who was the main carer for their family, their mother was a single mum, she was then diagnosed with a disability, and she couldn’t work any more.
“They decided to leave school and try and make some money to pay the bills, and it wasn’t enough.
“So when that young person engaged with older people who were offering them thousands to do things like steal a car, it was quite enticing.
“They were able to solve a lot of their problems at home to be able to just do these few jobs, and that’s what it starts with.”
Youth Off The Streets has grown to help thousands of homeless and disadvantaged young people in Australia. Supplied
Youth Off The Streets supports young people experiencing homelessness and other hardships, and expanded from a small operation in Sydney’s King’s Cross to a much larger program Australia-wide.
The not-for-profit organisation offers tailored support and early intervention to young adults across NSW and Queensland who may be heading or are already involved within the criminal justice system.
Eladb told nine.com.au that she has noticed young people being more forthcoming about the issues they are facing that potentially lead to them getting into trouble.
“No one walks out the door and goes, ‘I want to commit an offence’, but what’s happening under the surface is actually the motivation that people don’t necessarily see.”
Recent studies from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) found that, as of March, 220 young people remain in custody, a 29.7 per cent drop from a decade ago.
BOCSAR studies have noticed a slight drop in youth crime across NSW. iStockphoto
Overall, BOCSAR noticed a sharp decline in youth crime across the state over 15 years, with a 15 per cent drop in the number of young people facing court action by police.
Areas like NSW’s Mid North Coast and Illawarra have seen significant drops by more than 25 per cent.
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Non-domestic violence related assault was the most common reason young adults fronted court with more than 1100 cases from April 2025 to March 2026.
