Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, an exiled underworld figure linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars, has been arrested in Iraq on behalf of Australian authorities for alleged drug trafficking. Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation issued a statement on Monday night describing him as “one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world”.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett did not name Hamad in her Tuesday statement but said the AFP had worked with state police to “dismantle this alleged offender’s criminal network”. She noted that the AFP had sent members overseas and provided information to Iraqi officials late last year, after which Iraq launched its own investigation and made the arrest. Barrett called the arrest “a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia”.
In an October speech to the National Press Club, Barrett had identified the individual as her “number one priority”, saying the AFP suspected him of being responsible for tobacco-related arsons and deemed him a person of interest in the investigation into the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue. Multiple Australian law enforcement sources have previously confirmed Hamad is influential in the underworld and linked to Victoria’s violent turf war over tobacco shops, which prompted the establishment of Taskforce Lunar in October 2023.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush welcomed the arrest, saying officers would continue to work with the AFP and international partners. Premier Jacinta Allan said she could not comment further given the matter was before the courts, but acknowledged the work of authorities and highlighted the state’s new tobacco licensing scheme in cracking down on the illegal trade.
The Iraqi statement, referring to Hamad as Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami, said he was arrested in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs. It alleged he was responsible for importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia, smuggling heroin, and involvement with organised crime gangs in Sydney implicated in shootings, murders, kidnappings, violent assaults, extortion and drug imports.
