Dramatic scenes at Sydney Airport months after associate of notorious rap group was allegedly shot dead during brazen ambush in a garage

A man has been arrested at Sydney International Airport over the alleged murder of an associate linked to the notorious rap group OneFour earlier this year. Alai Ahio, 28, was at an Arbutus Street home in Canley Heights, south-west Sydney, with four other men on the night of May 19 when the group were ambushed in the garage by at least two men allegedly armed with guns and knives. The alleged attackers fled the scene in a white SUV. Ahio and another man, 32, was driven to Liverpool Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds, where he died a short time later, despite frantic efforts to revive him.

The other man was treated for a neck injury and survived. Three other men aged 19, 22 and 23, presented to other hospitals with various injuries.

Police established a crime scene and launched an investigation, which was later taken over by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad under Strike Force Valko. Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a man, 23, at Sydney International Airport on Saturday night. Footage released by NSW Police showed the handcuffed man in a Nike hoodie and tracksuit pants marched through the terminal by two detectives to a police paddy van outside.

Later that night, officers executed a search warrant at a home on Church Street, Moorebank, where they allegedly seized electronic devices and 10g of cocaine. The man was charged with murder and two counts of possession of an unauthorised pistol. He appeared in court on Sunday, where he was refused bail to reappear in Parramatta Local Court on September 17. Ahio, also known as Urcher, was once associated with Mount Druitt-based group OneFour, according to court documents from 2021.

He was also once a promising rugby league player who won an A-grade premiership with Doonside. Light heavyweight boxer Paul Aokuso recently paid tribute to his late mate Ahio ahead of his KO victory against Luis Antonio Tejeda on the Tim Tszyu-Errol Spence Jr undercard in Sydney on the weekend. 'He’ll always be there in spirit – he was a good person,' Aokuso said last month.

Police were investigating whether the brazen shooting had potential links to the Alameddine crime family and Sydney's underworld. 'We believe this was a targeted attack although the motive is unclear. We are aware of some organised crime links,' Superintendent Craig Middleton said at the time. 'It is very brazen, violent attack, and it is of concern to the community and of course the police, so we are doing everything we can with the resources we have available across the south-west region.

Investigations under Strike Force Valko continue. No other arrests have been made in relation to the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.