An alleged gunman and getaway driver have been charged over the alleged shooting of a former NRL star in southwest Sydney linked to a violent underworld conflict between a Pacific Islander gang and a Middle Eastern crime family.
NSW Police on Friday evening arrested Eamon Sharp, 25, in Marsden Park and a 15-year-old male in Emerton over the alleged attack on Matt Utai, 44, in Greenacre on Tuesday, which investigators believe is linked to his fugitive son Iziah Utai, 24, a leading figure in new drug gang the Coconut Cartel.
Police believe the emerging group is mainly comprised of Pacific Islanders who were previously affiliated with the notorious Alameddine criminal network, named after a Lebanese family involved in a series of underworld feuds in recent years.
Sharp and the 15-year-old were charged with “shoot at with intent to murder and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity”, and Sharp was also charged with possessing a prohibited drug, The Saturday Telegraph reported.
Investigators believe the Coconut Cartel is being run by three wanted men – the younger Utai, believed to be in Thailand, Lorenzo Lemalu, 24, believed to be in Dubai, and Anthony Pele, 24, who also fled to Dubai after a fatal shooting in 2023 that police allege left an innocent man dead.
Iziah Utai and Lemalu are former close associates of the Alameddines, while Pele was once affiliated with rival southwest Sydney-based Lebanese crime family the Haouchars, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Police are also looking into whether an Asian crime syndicate is helping to finance the Coconut Cartel after the Alameddines carried out a $4.6 million illegal tobacco theft that led to Iziah Utai allegedly trying to murder a senior Alameddine figure in a shooting that killed associate Dawood Zakaria.
The arrests come a day after four other males were charged over the alleged shooting of Mr Utai, who remains in hospital, and alleged firebombings and shootings targeting homes linked to Iziah.
Officers from NSW Police’s Raptor Squad raided homes in Riverwood, Guildford, Lilyfield, Villawood and Auburn and arrested Mohamad Hussein, 18, Issa Rijab, 19, Khaldoun Khamza, 19, and a 16-year-old male.
The arrests were linked to an alleged attempted murder, firebombings, and this shooting of a house: pic.twitter.com/40qTss10Z3
— The Noticer (@NoticerNews) February 20, 2026
Police also allegedly seized 1kg of cocaine, knuckledusters, electronic items and clothing believed to be linked to the alleged attempted murder of Mr Utai, the firebombing of Iziah’s home in Guildford West, and the shooting of a home linked to him in St Clair.
Video of the shooting filmed by independent media outlet SCN Worldstar shows a man referring to the Alameddine crime family before firing up to 15 shots atr the house, while a man filming says: “This is Iziah Utai’s family in-laws. Fuck you and the Coconut Cartel.”
Khamza, who was arrested in Guildford, was charged with “accessory after the fact to shoot at with intent to murder”, “participate criminal group contribute criminal activity” and “possess prohibited drug”. Police allege he drove the alleged gunman from Mr Utai’s house.
Rijab, who was arrested in Villawood was charged with “damage property by fire/exp >$15000”, “participate criminal group contribute criminal activity”, “supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity” and “supply prohibited drug >indictable & <commercial quantity”.
Police allege he was involved in the Guildford West firebombing, and supply of the seized cocaine.
The 16-year-old from Auburn was charged with “accessory after the fact to shoot at with intent to murder”, “supply pistol to person unauthorised to possess it”, and “participate criminal group contribute criminal activity”, and police allege he was involved in handling the gun allegedly used to shoot Mr Utai.
Hussein, who was arrested in Riverwood, was charged with” damage property by fire/exp >$15000″, and “participate criminal group contribute criminal activity”, and granted conditional bail to appear in court again in March.
Police also confirmed police have an active warrant for Iziah Utai’s arrest in connection with the alleged murder of Alameddine associate Dawood Zakaria in Granville in May last year.
Header image: Left, Eamon Sharp (NSW Police. Right, Matt Utai (Instagram).
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