Four teenagers have been arrested over a violent underworld conflict between an emerging Pacific Islander gang and an Middle Eastern crime family in western Sydney.
NSW Police’s Raptor Squad formed Strike Force Halesowen to investigate the alleged drive-by of rugby league star Matt Utai, 44, and alleged shooting and arson attacks on homes linked to his 24-year-old son Iziah Utai.
The attacks are allegedly linked to a ongoing gang war involving the mainly Pacific Islander Coconut Cartel, which recently split off from the notorious Alameddine criminal network centred around a Lebanese family of the same name.
Officers raided homes in Riverwood, Guildford, Lilyfield, Villawood and Auburn on Thursday and arrested Mohamad Hussein, 18, Issa Rijab, 19, Khaldoun Khamza, 19 and a 16-year-old male reported.
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, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. He was refused bail to appear in court on Friday.
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. He was refused bail to appear on court on Friday.
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. He was refused bail to appear in court on Friday.
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.
Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy, Raptor Squad acting commander, said police were still looking for two more people believed to be involved in the alleged shooting of Mr Utai, and the alleged Guildford West firebombing.
“It’s extremely serious,” Mr Abdy said of the conflict.
“We’ve seen one man shot, we’ve seen a house firebombed, and we’ve seen the shooting of another house.”
Mr Utai is still in an induced coma over the shooting outside his Greenacre home on Tuesday.
Header image: Left, centre, right, two of the men being arrested (NSW Police).
