The fatal shooting of an Australian gang leader in Vietnam and the earlier, separate gang-related killing of a Tongan-Australian man in Sydney have prompted police to investigate whether the two incidents are connected. The 24-year-old Coconut Cartel gang leader, Lorenzo Lemalu, was shot dead outside a restaurant in Vietnam, just two days after 28-year-old Alai ‘Ahio—a former associate of the controversial rap group OneFour—was gunned down at a residence in Sydney’s Canley Heights on Tuesday night, May 19. Australian authorities are on high alert over
fears of retaliation following Lemalu’s death, while also investigating whether the earlier shooting of Ahio was linked to the Coconut Cartel, according to reports by news.com.au and 9News. Relatives and those closely connected to Ahio’s family have confirmed to Kaniva News that he was of Tongan descent. Ahio died, and four others were seriously injured in a shooting at a home in Canley Heights on Tuesday night. According to reports, the assailants were carrying firearms and knives, ambushing the group in a coordinated assault before
fleeing the scene. Police have launched a major investigation, treating the killing as a premeditated act linked to ongoing gang tensions in Sydney’s south-west corridor—an area that has experienced periodic flare-ups of violence tied to organised crime networks. Detectives are examining Ahio’s known associations and past activities to determine the motive behind the attack. Cross-Border Violence Intensifies Just days later, Lemalu was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lemalu, who reportedly had historical ties to the Alameddine crime family in Australia, was ambushed
outside a restaurant on Thursday night. Witness accounts suggest he was targeted in a hail of gunfire at close range. Disturbing footage of the incident, which has circulated widely online, captures the moments leading up to the fatal shooting, underscoring the brazen nature of the attack. Another individual believed to be associated with the Coconut Cartel was also wounded during the incident, though their current condition has not been publicly confirmed. Vietnamese authorities are working alongside international law enforcement agencies to piece together the circumstances
surrounding Lemalu’s death, including any possible links to recent events in Australia. The Coconut Cartel, in particular, has been associated with a range of criminal activities and has drawn attention from authorities due to its perceived links to other established syndicates. Similarly, the Alameddine network has long been a focus of Australian law enforcement, with members reportedly involved in high-profile criminal cases.
Australian police, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Coconut Cartel, Lorenzo Lemalu, Sydney, Canley Heights, Alai ‘Ahio, OneFour, gang violence, retaliation, organised crime