Exiled gangland boss Kazem Hamad linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars arrested in Iraq | Australia news

An exiled underworld boss linked to Victoria’s ongoing tobacco wars has been arrested in Iraq.

Kazem “Kaz” Hamad was arrested on behalf of Australian law enforcement for alleged drug trafficking. expression From the Iraqi National Center for International Judicial Cooperation on Monday night.

The statement claimed that the defendant was “one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world.”

Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett released a statement on Tuesday detailing efforts to find the “alleged overseas criminal” who did not name Hamad but was accused of being a “number one target” and a “national security threat to this country”.

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Barrett said that while the AFP worked with state police “to dismantle this alleged criminal’s criminal network, a series of significant events required the AFP to step up its efforts to find him”; this includes sending its members abroad to gather intelligence and meet with foreign law enforcement.

He said late last year AFP provided information about the suspect to authorities in Iraq.

“Iraqi authorities made the independent decision to detain this suspected criminal after launching their own criminal investigation,” Barrett said.

“This arrest is a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia.”

He thanked the Iraq National Center for International Judicial Cooperation.

The arrest followed a speech Barrett gave to the National Press Club in October, in which she described the AFP as her “number one priority”, saying she was “responsible for a number of tobacco-related arsons in Australia”.

In his speech, he said the man was also “a person of interest in the investigation into the allegedly politically motivated arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.”

“This person is a national security threat to this country,” he said at the time.

“Of all the criminals accused of threatening Australia, he is my number one priority and I have deployed my most experienced crime busters to target him.”

Multiple law enforcement sources in Australia have previously confirmed that Hamad is thought to be an influential figure in the underworld and is linked to the ongoing turf war over Victoria’s tobacco shops.

Victoria police have previously said the violent standoff, which saw a number of shops targeted, was largely driven by underworld figures including outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern organized crime groups.

They established Taskforce Lunar in October 2023 following an increase in organized crime activity linked to the illegal tobacco trade.

Victoria police chief Mike Bush welcomed news of the arrest.

“We will continue to work with the AFP and our international law enforcement partners to assist where necessary,” he said.

“Victoria police are determined to stamp out organized crime in this state and the damage it causes innocent members of the community.

“As the matter is ongoing, we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said she could not comment on the arrest beyond acknowledging the work authorities had done to achieve it, given the matter was before the courts.

He said Victoria police had done “a huge amount of work to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade”, including numerous arrests and the closure of shops. Allan said this work was supported by the province’s new tobacco licensing plan.

The Iraqi statement released Tuesday refers to Hamad as “Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami.”

In the statement, “The defendant… was arrested after obtaining the necessary permissions from the Supreme Judicial Council for an investigation against him, under the coordination of the General Directorate of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

“The trials were initiated by the First Karkh Investigative Court, which specializes in drug cases.”

The statement alleges that Hamad was responsible for “importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia, as well as smuggling heroin.”

“He also has links to the most prominent organized crime gangs in Australia; Sydney is responsible for shootings, murders, kidnappings, violent assaults, extortion and drug importation,” the report said.

Iraqi authorities allege he has ties to outlaw gangs with wide influence in Australia and the Middle East.

“[They] “They are responsible for murder, shootings, money laundering, fraud, assault, arson and drug trafficking globally.”