By Tom Wark and Sarah Spina-Matthews in Sydney

Efforts to wrangle one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives and leader of the notorious Coconut Cartel are ramping up.

On Friday, NSW authorities announced a $250,000 reward for any information that leads to the successful arrest and extradition of fugitive Anthony Pele.

Police allege Pele, 25, fled Australia in August 2023 after killing one innocent victim and wounding two others in a bungled underworld hit.

But the international manhunt has taken on greater importance since the explosion in gangland violence in Sydney in recent months.

Pele’s Coconut Cartel has been embroiled in a violent feud with the notorious Alameddine crime family, and police believe the wanted man is still heavily involved in actions at home.

The conflict has spilled into shootings across Sydney, including two mistaken identity killings in as many days in late August.

Several people, including a 16-year-old boy, are before the courts over the alleged botched hits.

“(Pele’s) involved in causing serious harm in NSW … he remains active offshore with regards to communicating in the organised crime networks,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree told reporters.

Mr Greentree confirmed a red notice has been issued to global police forces to request Pele’s arrest.

“We need to ascertain the exact whereabouts of Pele, which we believe is in southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam,” Mr Greentree said.

Australia has a bilateral extradition treaty with Vietnam, according to the Attorney-General’s Department website.

Notwithstanding his alleged involvement in ongoing organised crime, Pele is wanted on four other outstanding warrants for “horrendous” alleged crimes, the top officer said.

“We are talking about murder, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to kidnap and shoot with intent to murder,” Mr Greentree said.

“I don’t think that gets much more serious.”

Ahmed Al Azzam, 25, died in hospital three days after he was found seriously injured in his parked car following the shooting at Greenacre in southwest Sydney on July 23.

Two other people, a 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, were wounded in a separate car parked about 50m away.

Pele allegedly got on a plane soon after pulling the trigger on all three victims in the early-morning attack.

Police are hoping the hefty reward will prompt some of Pele’s associates to rethink their allegiances and dob him in, or at least put the seed of doubt in the fugitive’s mind.

“(Pele’s) biggest concern with this reward is if the cops don’t get him, I think the paranoia will,” Mr Greentree said.

“He won’t know what shoulder to look over, he won’t know who is his friend.”

The State Crime Command boss also had a pointed message for Pele himself.

“Time will not make a difference. This will not go away,” Mr Greentree said.

“We will bring you back and ensure you face justice here in NSW.”

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.