An emerging crime-for-hire network allegedly at war with a notorious crime family has come into police sights as two members are arrested.
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The self-styled 'Coconut Cartel', which was the apparent target of a shooting that put a former NRL star in hospital, has been accused of escalating violence and a string of alleged threats and incidents, according to authorities.
Members are accused of setting a car on fire in Guildford, in Sydney's west, on January 21 before leaving signs that referenced the Coconut Cartel on the vehicle.
Video of the fire circulated on an underworld-focused media outlet, with police lamenting an escalation in footage of alleged crimes being posted online.
Two men - Isaac Mar-Tuvunivono, 24, and 19-year-old Nadan Moore - faced court on Thursday accused of the fire.
Mar-Tuvunivono, arrested on February 19, was hit with a string of charges including possessing an unauthorised pistol, destroying property by fire and participating in a criminal group.
He faced Blacktown Local Court and did not apply for bail. He will be back in court on May 1.
Moore was charged with destroying property by fire and participating in a criminal group.
A police statement confirmed a strike force had been set up specifically targeting the Coconut Cartel.
"Strike Force Helston was established ... to suppress escalating violence and investigate a series of alleged threats and incidents linked to the syndicate," it read.
Detective Acting Superintendent Brad Abdy was quizzed about the Coconut Cartel following the February 17 shooting of 2004 NRL premiership winger Matt Utai.
Utai was caught in the crossfire of his son Iziah Utai's alleged criminal associations and escalating gang conflict, police said.
He is not accused of any criminal associations.
It is understood the younger Utai is linked with the Coconut Cartel.
"We believe the Coconut Cartel, a name they've given themselves, is a violent criminal organisation, they're involved in crime-for-hire essentially and they're committing offences across Sydney," Act Supt Abdy said.
"We've all seen there's an escalation in (recording and distributing videos of crimes), there's certain platforms giving them that ability."
Six people have been charged for alleged involvement in the Matt Utai incident along with associated car fires and the shooting of a house. All are understood to have been attacks against the Coconut Cartel.
A 25-year-old man and 15-year-old boy have been charged with the attempted murder over Utai's shooting attack.
Australian Associated Press
