Alleged Coconut Cartel Member Arrested in Sydney After Boy's Shooting Death
Police apprehended an 18-year-old at Sydney International Airport, who allegedly left his phone at the scene of an incident where an 11-year-old died.
New South Wales Police have arrested Reece Fakhr, 18, an alleged influential member of the Coconut Cartel, at Sydney International Airport as he was about to board a flight to Southeast Asia. The arrest follows an investigation into the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy inside a Sydney home on September 21.
Fakhr was allegedly among a group of individuals present in a Norwest apartment when the shooting occurred. The boy died three days later in hospital, and it is understood he was handling an illegal firearm when it discharged.
While Fakhr was initially questioned and released without charge, police recovered a phone they allege belongs to him at the crime scene. Forensic examination of this device reportedly uncovered encrypted messages linking Fakhr to high-ranking members of the Coconut Cartel, including alleged leaders Anthony Pele and Iziah Utai, who are believed to be overseas.
The Coconut Cartel, reportedly named using a slur against Pasifika people, is in conflict with the Alameddine crime syndicate. The messages on the recovered phone allegedly detail conspiracies involving murder, arson attacks, kidnappings, and firearm trafficking.
Fakhr has been charged by detectives from Taskforce Falcon with 10 offenses. These include knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, conspiracy to murder, supplying a pistol to an unauthorized person, and recklessly destroying business premises by fire. Fakhr is not accused of direct involvement in the 11-year-old boy's death.
He was denied bail in court on Wednesday and will remain in custody until his next court appearance in December.