Three men and a 16 year old boy have been charged after a series of shootings and an alleged firebombing that police say is linked to a growing underworld conflict in Sydney’s west.
The charges follow raids by the Raptor Squad’s Strike Force Halesowen after former NRL winger Matt Utai was shot outside a home in Greenacre just after 6am on Tuesday.
Police allege the attack was meant for his son, Iziah Utai and that the same dispute later spread to other suburbs.
Investigators say shots were fired at a home in St Clair and a property linked to Iziah Utai in Guildford West was later set on fire with videos of the attacks shared online.
Police believe the violence is linked to tension between the Alameddine crime family and a group calling itself the Coconut Cartel which officers have described as a crime for hire operation.
Raptor Squad Superintendent Brad Abdy said police were working to identify who was behind the violence including any people operating from overseas.
Brad Abdy, Raptor Squad Superintendent said that “They don’t remain out of our reach forever.”
In Guildford, 19 year old Khaldoun Khazma was arrested and charged with police alleging he picked up the gunman involved in the Greenacre shooting. He was refused bail and is due back in court later in February.
A 16 year old boy was arrested in Auburn and charged after police alleged he handled the firearm used in the shooting.
Two other men, 18 year old Mohamad Hussein and 19 year old Issa Rijab were charged over the Guildford West firebombing with Mr Rijab refused bail and Mr Hussein granted conditional bail.
Police say more than 100 officers are working on the investigation and have warned anyone pulled into the violence that the taskforce will keep pushing for more arrests.
