An exiled underworld boss, suspected by police of being a central player in Victoria's escalating tobacco wars, has been apprehended overseas in a significant international law enforcement operation.
Arrest of a "Most Dangerous" Target
Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad was arrested in Iraq on behalf of Australian authorities, according to a statement released by Iraq's National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation. The Iraqi statement, issued on Monday night, described the accused as "one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world" and linked him to the alleged importation of large quantities of drugs into both Iraq and Australia.
The arrest followed intelligence provided by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to Iraqi officials late last year. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed the operation in a statement on Tuesday, referring to an "alleged offshore offender" considered a "number one target" and a "national security threat" to Australia. While not naming Hamad directly, her details matched the case.
"Iraqi officials have made an independent decision to arrest this alleged offender after launching their own criminal investigation," Commissioner Barrett stated. She characterised the arrest as a "significant disruption" to a serious alleged criminal enterprise operating in Australia.
Links to Victoria's Violent Turf War
Multiple Australian law enforcement sources have previously identified Hamad as an influential underworld figure. He has been directly connected to the ongoing and violent turf war over illicit tobacco shops in Victoria, a conflict largely fought between outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates.
In response to a surge in related organised crime activity, Victorian police established Taskforce Lunar in October 2023. The violence has involved shootings, arson attacks, and intimidation across Melbourne's suburbs.
The Iraqi authorities' statement further alleges Hamad's involvement with prominent organised crime gangs in Sydney, accusing him of connections to shootings, murders, kidnappings, and extortion. It claims the gangs he is associated with have extensive influence in both Australia and the Middle East, engaging in money laundering, fraud, arson, and global drug trafficking.
International Cooperation and Legal Proceedings
The arrest was executed in coordination with Iraq's General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, following necessary approvals from the country's Supreme Judicial Council. Legal proceedings have been initiated by the First Karkh Investigation Court in Baghdad, which specialises in drug cases.
Commissioner Barrett highlighted the AFP's intensified efforts to locate the alleged offender, which included deploying members overseas to gather intelligence and liaise with foreign law enforcement. She extended thanks to the Iraqi National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation for its role in the operation.
The Iraqi statement referred to the individual as Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami. His arrest marks a major development in attempts to dismantle the criminal networks fuelling both the Australian tobacco wars and international drug trafficking routes.
