Full Breakdown
Lorenzo Lemalu's Funeral Relocated After Drive-By Shooting
6/7/2026, 7:59:45 PM
Lorenzo Lemalu, the Coconut Cartel, and the Alameddine Feud
Lorenzo Lemalu, 35, was the alleged head of Coconut Cartel, a gang named after a slur. The cartel has clashed with the Alameddine crime family. Lemalu was killed in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in an attack reported in May 2026, after two Samoan men claimed responsibility on Vietnamese television.
Chronology of Key Incidents
• May 2026: Lemalu killed in Ho Chi Minh City.
• April 2026: Police seized ~400 kg of meth from an Emu Plains warehouse.
• 6 June 2026: Drive-by shooting at Diamond Venues, Punchbowl; no casualties.
• 7 June 2026: Funeral at Lakemba Mosque with extensive police deployment.
Key Figures and Operational Details
Dozens attended the Lakemba Mosque service. Police deployed riot units and aerial surveillance, patrolling with vehicles. The shooter used an AK-47-style rifle from a stolen SUV later found burnt out on Gillian Place. The April meth seizure involved 400 kg.
Police Statements on Progress and Threat Assessment
Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook said investigators had made progress against crime, stating force feels “on par” with criminal networks. Police said Punchbowl shooting is being examined for links to feud between Coconut Cartel and Alameddine crime family, and they remain on alert for retaliatory attacks.
Mourners and Police Presence at Lakemba Mosque
Mourners wore black masks, many avoiding media. Police escorted Lemalu’s hearse to Leppington for burial and kept presence throughout service. After burial, officers stopped and searched associates along Camden Valley Way before releasing them.
Discrepancies in Death Details and Investigation Gaps
Sources cite 2 May and 21 May 2026 for Lemalu’s death. Descriptions vary: a “hail of bullets” and a shooting while he was “dining at a Vietnamese restaurant.” Punchbowl shooter not identified; link between meth seizure and gang feud is unconfirmed.
Direct Statements from NSW Police
- “For a long time, we’ve been playing catch up.” — Scott Cook, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner
- “For the first time we think we’re on par.” — Scott Cook, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner
- “The extensive security operation came after a gunman opened fire on Diamond Venues in Punchbowl last night.” — 9News, Nine.com.au
- “Police remain on alert for further retaliatory attacks as detectives investigate both the Punchbowl shooting and the overseas execution of Lemalu.” — NSW Police, as reported by ABC News
Future Police Actions and Anticipated Risks
Police will continue investigating the Punchbowl shooting and Lemalu’s overseas execution, focusing on any connection to the meth seizure and the Coconut Cartel-Alameddine feud. Detectives warn of possible retaliatory attacks.
