Suspected hired killers given away by dodgy number plates are accused of making multiple attempts on the life of a prominent organised crime figure.
The elaborate plan, allegedly involving at least three Sydney men and a teenager, reportedly included staged vehicles, surveillance, getaway drivers and assassins.
It began to unravel in September, when police stopped a BMW sedan sporting cloned number plates in western Sydney.
Police allege the two men in the car they pulled over were on their way to assassinate the target.
The car's driver sped away and led officers on a chase through two suburbs, but evaded capture and the two men are still being sought by officers.
Police found the car abandoned about 40 minutes later, along with a loaded handgun on a nearby street.
After a six month-long investigation, four accused participants in the conspiracy were arrested on Thursday.
Detective Superintendent Jason Box said he expected the two men in the car they pursued in September to be handcuffed soon.
The group reattempted the hit job at some point during that six months, but failed for undisclosed reasons, he said.
The alleged target was warned about the threats on his life.
"He's thankful. We're maintaining dialogue with him and he's aware of the threats," Det Supt Box told reporters.
"With most people involved in this type of activity, it's expected in some shape or form that they will be targeted. The level of violence on this occasion was extreme."
Who hired the accused hitmen and why remains a mystery.
On Thursday, police charged two men with conspiring to carry out the hit.
One of them, 21-year-old Sydney man Robin Faumuina, faces six charges including driving a stolen vehicle and possessing unregistered and illegal firearms, on top of conspiracy to murder and participating in group criminal activity.
A local court judge refused him bail on all charges on Friday.
His alleged co-conspirator Chris Emmanuel Faigafa, 26, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and directing group criminal activities.
He did not apply for bail in local court on Friday, nor did 21-year-old Osman Sabsabi, who is charged with contributing to group criminal activity which police say involved surveilling the would-be victim.
All three men remain behind bars.
The fourth alleged accomplice, aged 17, was granted strict conditional bail to appear in children's court on May 11.
A fifth man, 20, is accused of firebombing a car in western Sydney in October along with accused conspirator Faigafa in a separate incident.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear in local court on May 14.
The foiled plot was the latest in an intensifying slew of organised crime activity and contracted killings, Det Supt Jason Box said.
"It is increasing. I haven't seen this type of environment (before) at all to be honest."
