Kazem Hamad arrested in Iraq after being declared ’one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world
Updated ,first published
Exiled gang boss Kazem Hamad has reportedly been arrested by the Iraqi government on behalf of Australian law enforcement after being labeled “one of the world’s most dangerous wanted men”.
Rumors have been circulating in the underworld for more than 24 hours that the leader of Australia’s most powerful illegal tobacco cartel has been detained in his native Iraq, where he is accused of running an international criminal empire worth billions of dollars.
The Australian Federal Police declined to comment on this byline on Monday evening.
But a statement from Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, published online late Tuesday, said Hamad was arrested “in response to an official request from Australia.”
“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 translated from Arabic said.
“The defendant is one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world.
“He is responsible for importing large quantities of drugs and smuggling heroin into Iraq and Australia.
“He is also linked to the most prominent organized crime gangs in Australia responsible for shootings, murders, kidnappings, violent attacks, extortion and drug importation in Sydney.
“He also has ties to outlaw gangs that have wide influence in Australia and the Middle East and are responsible for murder, shootings, money laundering, fraud, assault, arson and drug trafficking globally,” the statement said.
The statement refers to Hamad as “Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami.”
Since his release from prison and deportation to Iraq in July 2023, police suspect Hamad and his gang have seized control of large parts of the illicit tobacco market and imposed a new order on Melbourne’s gangland.
“The Hamad organization is responsible for numerous serious crimes, including arson and extortion.” [and] A police intelligence report obtained by this imprint says there have been shootings linked to the illegal tobacco trade as well as the import and distribution of illicit tobacco.
Police sources say that Hamad is at the top of the list of “Australian priority organizational targets” used by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission for the most important organized crime groups in the country.
At the recent Senate Estimates hearing, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett called Hamad national security threat He has alleged involvement in the illicit tobacco industry, alleged links to serious acts of violence, and suspected involvement in the December 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue on behalf of the Iranian government.
A source familiar with law enforcement operations against Hamad said it was unclear whether the Australian government would be able to extradite Hamad to Australia or whether Iraqi authorities would continue to hold him, assuming reports of Hamad’s arrest were accurate.
Hamad came to be seen as virtually untouchable from his base in Iraq, where he lived in a fortified compound and conducted his business through encryption technology.
Hamad is suspected of having deep and influential ties to Iraqi security services, partly due to his family ties and partly due to his vast wealth.
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