Two men have been charged in Samoa with conspiracy to murder in connection with the killing of an Australian gang leader in Vietnam earlier this year. Authorities said the suspects, one a New Zealander and the other a Samoan national, face life imprisonment if convicted.

The charges relate to the May shooting death of Lorenzo Lemalu, who was identified by police as the leader of Sydney’s so-called “Coconut Cartel,” an organised crime group. The attack occurred outside a seafood restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, where another individual sustained serious injuries.

Both men appeared in court in Samoa on Wednesday and were subsequently released on conditional bail. Samoan law enforcement and the Australian Federal Police are collaborating on the investigation.

Following the shooting, Vietnamese authorities arrested two additional men, who reportedly admitted to carrying out the attack under instructions from an individual residing overseas. The incident was captured on CCTV footage released by Australian media, showing the assailant opening fire on a busy street in the southern Vietnamese city.

In a broader crackdown, Vietnamese police also detained eight local individuals accused of assisting the suspects’ escape and failing to report the crime. The multiple arrests and international coordination signal a significant law enforcement effort to apprehend those responsible for the killing, which has drawn attention across the region.