Federal police target power vacuum after tobacco kingpin’s arrest in Iraq
Federal police say the arrest of alleged Melbourne tobacco baron Kazem Hamad in Iraq has opened a power vacuum in his powerful syndicate that authorities will exploit.
Hamad, 41, was arrested in Iraq in January as part of an Iraqi drug investigation and could have faced the death penalty.
Described as a national security threat to Australia and a top target for federal police, Hamad is alleged to have pulled the strings of Melbourne’s deadly illicit tobacco trade from the Arab country.
On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett threatened Hamad loyalists that his arrest would create tensions that investigators could exploit.
“Due to Hamad’s arrest, the lack of leadership, infighting and dysfunction within the union creates new opportunities for investigators connected to Operation Carmen,” Ms. Barrett said.
“The AFP will use every partnership, capability and legislative authority to dismantle this dangerous organization and identify every single person associated with this criminal gang.”
Federal police and the Iraqi National Center for International Judicial Cooperation also jointly released a mugshot of Hamad on Tuesday.
“I want every criminal with ties to Hamad or his syndicate to look long and carefully at this photo,” the AFP Commissioner said.
“And I want to be very clear; the AFP is not done just because Hamad is in custody.”
Ms. Barrett said Iraqi authorities made an independent decision to detain Hamad in January based on their own criminal investigation.
“AFP can confirm that Hamad is being detained at a secret location in Iraq.”
AFP and Iraqi authorities are sharing information and Australian investigators continue to investigate suspected illegal activities led by Hamad and his organisation.
“While the Iraq investigation continues, the AFP remains committed to Operation Carmen, our investigation into Hamad and his organisation.”
AFP suspects the organization operates in five Australian states and one territory.
Hamad, who came to Australia with his family as a 14-year-old refugee in 1998, was never granted citizenship and was deported in 2023 after serving eight years in prison.
A violent escalation and power struggle has ensued in Melbourne’s illicit tobacco trade as Hamad is alleged to have routed his associates from halfway around the world.
A number of lower-level and more competent associates have practiced in courts in Melbourne since 2023.
