An exiled underworld boss, considered a central figure in the violent turf battles over illicit tobacco shops in Victoria, has been apprehended overseas in a significant international police operation.
Arrest in Iraq on Behalf of Australian Authorities
Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad was arrested in Iraq on Monday night, local time, following a request from Australian law enforcement. The arrest was confirmed by Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation, which stated the action was taken on behalf of Australian authorities for alleged drug trafficking offences.
The Iraqi statement identified the accused as "Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami" and labelled him "one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world". It alleges he is responsible for importing large quantities of drugs into both Iraq and Australia, including heroin, and links him to shootings, murders, and kidnappings in Sydney.
A "National Security Threat" Disrupted
While not naming Hamad directly, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett issued a statement on Tuesday detailing the pursuit of an "alleged offshore offender" described as a "number one target" and a "national security threat to this country".
Commissioner Barrett revealed that AFP officers were sent overseas to gather intelligence and work with foreign counterparts after "a number of significant events" required efforts to be "supercharged". Late last year, the AFP provided information to officials in Iraq, who then launched their own investigation leading to the arrest.
"This arrest is a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia," Barrett stated, thanking the Iraqi authorities for their cooperation.
Link to Victoria's Escalating Tobacco Conflict
Multiple Australian law enforcement sources have previously confirmed that Hamad is considered an influential underworld figure connected to the ongoing and violent conflict over the illicit tobacco trade in Victoria. The violence, involving outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime groups, prompted Victoria Police to establish Taskforce Lunar in October 2023.
The Iraqi authorities further alleged that Hamad is involved with outlaw gangs possessing extensive influence across Australia and the Middle East, responsible for a global portfolio of crime including money laundering, fraud, arson, and drug trafficking.
The arrest marks a pivotal moment in attempts to dismantle the networks fuelling the suburban tobacco wars, which have seen a dramatic spike in organised crime activity linked to the lucrative black-market trade.
