Police say investigations into the alleged shooting of underworld figure Mahmoud "Brownie" Ahmad led officers to uncover plans for a separate murder, which was foiled.
Two men arrested during morning raids in Sydney's south-west on Monday as part of the probe into Ahmad's death, have now been charged.
Ahmad, 39, was allegedly gunned down on a Greenacre street in April last year when a volley of shots were fired from a passing car.
He had only recently been released from prison on parole after serving time for manslaughter, and was warned by police there was a bounty on his head.
Investigations into the alleged hit have been rolled into Task Force Erebus, the team overseeing inquiries into a string of gangland murders.
Four men — aged 26, 29, 37 and 49 — have already been charged with roles in Ahmad's death and remain before the courts.
About 8am on Monday morning, detectives searched properties at Campsie and Clemton Park.
Police arrested two men and took them to Campsie police station for questioning.
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Weinstein said the two men were related to each other and police will allege the Clemton Park man was planning a separate murder.
"We've uncovered evidence to say they were planning to commit another murder," he said.
"We have basically stopped that murder from occurring."
Ahmad's death is believed to have sparked a tit-for-tat series of public shootings, with two other people killed in separate incidents — his nephew Rami Iskander and bikie associate Omar Zahed.
Detective Chief Inspector Weinstein said the alleged new murder plot was targeting "a totally different individual altogether", and was not part of those retaliatory attacks.
The senior detective said police will allege the two men were involved in "significant drug activities across" the state.
A 33-year-old Clemton Park man was charged with 16 offences including accessory after the fact to murder and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
The second man, a 33-year-old from Campsie, was charged with 15 offences including knowingly direct activities of criminal group and multiple counts of supplying a prohibited drug.
The arrests come less than two weeks after investigators made a renewed appeal for information about the alleged murder on April 27, 2022.
Footage of the incident, captured on CCTV, showed several shots fired from the window of a Porsche as it drove past Ahmad.
He had just left a friend's home on Narelle Crescent, when police allege he was ambushed.
Emergency services were called to the scene but Ahmad could not be revived.
Police investigation into Ahmad's killers
Detective Chief Inspector Weinstein said officers were closing in on the people who "actually fired the shots into Mr Ahmad".
He said the work of Task Force Erebus had slowed down the number of organised crime shootings in Sydney, with just one recorded in 2023.
It followed 17 murders in the previous two years, Detective Chief Inspector Weinstein said.
"We made it very clear we were not only coming after the people involved in the homicides, but those who were associated to or facilitated the organised crime environment," he said.
"I say there is an opportunity for the people on the periphery of these investigations, the time is now [to come forward] before we come knocking on your doors."
Investigations under Task Force Erebus continue.
