Four teenagers have been charged over a series of violent attacks in Greater Western Sydney, including the alleged shooting of former NRL player Matt Utai, who is fighting for his life in hospital.
Detectives raided six properties throughout Thursday in Riverwood, Guildford, Lilyfield, Villawood and Auburn.
They arrested two 19-year-old men, an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy over the shooting of Utai and the alleged firebombing and shootings of homes linked to his 24-year-old son, Iziah Utai.
Police allege Iziah Utai was formerly associated with the Alameddine crime family but recently split from the group and aligned himself with the rival Coconut Cartel.
The move triggered the violent retaliation now unfolding across Western Sydney, detectives believe.
‘Criminals throughout history have been known to retaliate against other rival gangs. It’s not a new occurrence,’ Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy said.
‘The escalation appears to be targeting innocent members of particular families. It’s ridiculously disgusting offences they are committing.
‘These people are ordinarily innocent people that are now being targeted by violent criminal syndicates, and they have no association with the criminality of the people in their particular families or their particular associates.’
Matt Utai is fighting for life in hospital after he was shot twice in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday before 6am
A short time later, police discovered an SUV on fire in Wiley Park
Police allege the ex-NRL player’s son Iziah Utai was formerly associated with the Alameddine crime family but recently split from the group and aligned himself with the rival Coconut Cartel
Iziah’s father, former Canterbury-Bankstown winger Matt Utai, was shot twice on Macquarie Street in Greenacre, in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday before 6am.
NSW Police allege an SUV drove past the 44-year-old’s home shortly before up to five shots were fired from the vehicle.
Paramedics treated Utai at the scene for injuries to his shoulder and leg before he was rushed under emergency conditions to St George Hospital.
He had surgery after being left with serious leg wounds from the attack.
A short time later, police found an SUV on fire on Samuel Street in Wiley Park.
Just 24 hours later, footage emerged of a second attack in which gunmen – said to be associated with the Alameddine crime network – taunted the Utai clan again.
They unleashed 14 rounds from an automatic weapon into the walls and windows of a home in St Clair, western Sydney, about 12.45am on Wednesday.
The gunmen claimed it was the home of the in-laws of Iziah Utai.
Detectives believe Iziah Utai’s move to the Coconut Cartel triggered the violent retaliation against the Utai family in Western Sydney
In an attack on a Guildford West house, believed to belong to Iziah Utai’s mother, the assailants firebombed the property and then filmed it
In the latest video – apparently shot by the gunmen themselves, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas – one screamed at the home: ‘F*** you and the cartel.’
In the second video, the thugs launched an arson attack on the suspected Guildford West home of Iziah Utai’s mother and filmed the burning property
A man in the video of the attack added: ‘Zat ziggy Utai … f*** him and the Coconut Cartel – this is the start of the destruction brother.’
The suspected getaway car was found burnt out in nearby Freeman Street in Colyton a short time later.
The Coconut Cartel gang, which Iziah Utai has been linked to, is understood to have launched a war on the Alameddines for control of the Sydney drug scene.
It was revealed on Friday that police have an active arrest warrant for Iziah in connection with the murder of Alameddine associate Dawood Zakaria.
‘Homicide Squad detectives hold an active arrest warrant for Iziah Utai under Strike Force Arrino,’ a NSW Police spokesperson told The Daily Telegraph.
‘The 24-year-old is wanted by virtue of an outstanding arrest warrant for alleged criminal group related offences. He is currently believed to be offshore.’
Authorities believe the younger Utai is overseas
Police have set up a task force to crack down on the escalating gang violence, furnishing it with more than 100 investigators.
As part of the investigations, the four teenagers were charged with a total of 12 offences between them in connection with the attacks targeting the Utai family.
Police allege one of the 19-year-old men picked up the gunman after the former NRL star was shot.
He was charged with being an accessory after the fact to a shooting with intent to murder, along with participating in a criminal group and a drug charge.
Police allege the 16-year-old boy handled the gun and was also charged with being an accessory after the fact to a shooting with intent to murder and supplying a pistol to a person unauthorised to possess it.
Both were refused bail to appear in court on Friday.
The 18-year-old man was charged with damaging property by fire and participating in a criminal group, accused of the firebombing in Guildford West. He was bailed to appear in court on March 10.
The second 19-year-old man was charged with participating in the criminal group related to the firebombing and commercial quantity drug supply after police allegedly found 1kg of cocaine at a house.
Four teenagers were charged over the series of violent attacks
The latest drive-by shootings unfolded eight months after Iziah’s Merrylands barber shop was firebombed twice by a teenager known to be an associate of the Alameddines.
Iziah, who has served time in prison and been found guilty of firearms, drugs and robbery charges, came to the attention of authorities in 2019.
He was convicted the following year of armed robbery and sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order (CCO) which expired in February 2022.
In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a prohibited drug and received a 12-month CCO expiring in December 2022.
He was found guilty in 2021 on a charge of driving with an illicit drug in his blood, and received a two-year Conditional Release Order (CRO) to expire in May 2023, but recorded no conviction.
He breached his CRO in 2023 when he was charged with six offences, later pleading guilty to charges related to firearms and drug possession.
In 2023, Iziah was sentenced to 18 months’ jail with a non-parole period of nine months, meaning he was eligible for parole in October 2023.
An investigation into the circumstances of the latest incidents is under way.
Anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam and/or mobile phone footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
