An exiled Australian criminal mastermind, branded one of the world's most dangerous fugitives, has been captured in Iraq following a formal request from Australian authorities.
From Melbourne's Streets to an International Crime Network
Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad, a Victorian man deported to Iraq in 2023, was detained on Saturday in a coordinated operation. Iraqi authorities, referring to him as Kadhem Malik Hamid Rabah Al-Hijami, stated the arrest was made by the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances after securing judicial approvals.
Hamad emigrated to Australia from Basra, Iraq, with his family in 1998 at age 14. His criminal career began swiftly, with his first arrest at 17 in 2001. He later served a 30-month sentence for kidnapping and assault in 2011. Psychological reports linked his growing ruthlessness to the death of his brother in a 2009 bombing in Iraq after his family briefly returned following Saddam Hussein's fall.
A Reign of Fire, Drugs, and Desecration
Despite his deportation after serving an eight-year sentence for heroin trafficking, Hamad allegedly continued to control a vast criminal empire from Dubai and other Middle Eastern locations using encrypted communications. Police believe he directed a violent campaign to dominate Melbourne's illegal tobacco trade, including:
- Multiple fire-bombings of tobacco stores.
- A foiled plot to desecrate the grave of a gangland rival's sister in July 2024.
- Conspiring with Iranian spies to firebomb a synagogue in December 2024, an act that contributed to Australia severing diplomatic ties with Iran.
ASIO identified him as a suspect after a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf was linked to both an arson attack and a shooting related to the tobacco war. Iraqi authorities accuse him of importing large quantities of narcotics into Iraq and Australia, trafficking heroin, and collaborating with major organised crime gangs in Sydney involved in murder, kidnapping, and extortion.
Global Reach and Lasting Impact
Hamad's network is accused of wielding influence across Australia and the Middle East, with ties to murders, shootings, money laundering, and global drug trafficking. His journey from a minor player in Melbourne's west—where he associated with figures like former Bandidos boss Toby Mitchell—to an international kingpin was cemented during his time in Barwon prison, where he built connections with other major crime figures.
The National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation confirmed the arrest was executed in response to Australia's official request, marking a significant breakthrough in a case spanning decades and continents. The Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment on the development.
