The NRL star, a wayward son and a gangland war with Sydney’s most notorious crime family
Sydney Morning Herald
by Riley Walter, Perry DuffinFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Alameddine crime family, once the dominant power in Sydney’s underworld, faces a mounting challenge from the self-proclaimed Coconut Cartel as tensions escalate over control of the city’s lucrative drug trade. The Alameddines, long-ruling but weakened by years of conflict with rivals and increasing police pressure, have seen internal divisions grow since their leaders fled to Lebanon for safety. Now, a new threat has emerged: the Coconut Cartel, led in part by Iziah Utai, the son of former NRL star Matt Utai, who was ambushed in a brazen drive-by shooting this week.
The violence escalated after police identified Iziah as a central figure in the Coconut Cartel and linked him to the murder of senior Alameddine member Dawood Zakaria. Retaliation was swift: Matt Utai was shot twice outside his home, and Iziah’s properties were targeted in reprisal attacks. The conflict has drawn comparisons to the gangland wars of the 1980s, with Taskforce Falcon, established to curb violence tied to the Alameddine network, arresting key figures like Ali Elmoubayed, believed to be the group’s onshore leader.
Rafat Alameddine, now based in Lebanon, retains influence over the group but faces challenges from a fragmented network and rising competition. The Coconut Cartel’s rise highlights how the Alameddines’ weakened position has created opportunities for new players to challenge their dominance. This escalating conflict underscores the broader issue of organized crime’s enduring grip on Sydney’s underbelly, despite efforts by law enforcement.
This situation matters globally as it reflects the ever-shifting dynamics of organized crime and its impact on communities. The Coconut Cartel’s emergence signals a potential new era in Sydney’s underworld, where old powers are being challenged and new alliances formed amid violent competition for control. The ongoing violence and police crackdowns demonstrate the ongoing struggle to contain organized crime networks, which continue to adapt and evolve.
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 2/20/2026