An exiled Australian criminal, once described as 'one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world', has been captured in Iraq following a major international operation.
From Melbourne to the Middle East: The Rise of a Crime Boss
Kazem 'Kaz' Hamad, a 43-year-old originally from Basra in Iraq, emigrated to Melbourne with his family in 1998. His descent into serious organised crime began swiftly. His first arrest came in 2001 at age 17, and by August 2011 he was serving a 30-month sentence for kidnapping and assault.
Hamad's criminal enterprise expanded significantly, moving from local enforcement to large-scale narcotics. In December 2014, he was charged over a $6 million heroin smuggling network. His Australian citizenship was revoked in September 2015 due to this arrest, and he was placed in immigration detention.
Despite being deported to Iraq in 2023 after serving an eight-year sentence, authorities allege Hamad maintained a tight grip on his Australian operations. He is accused of using encrypted communications from Dubai and other Middle Eastern locations to direct a violent campaign to control Melbourne's illicit tobacco trade.
A Catalogue of Alleged Crimes and International Intrigue
Iraqi authorities, acting on an official request from Australia, detained Hamad on Saturday. The National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation identified him as Kadhem Malik Hamid Rabah Al-Hijami.
In a detailed statement, they accused him of a vast array of offences:
- Importing large quantities of narcotics into Iraq and Australia, including heroin trafficking.
- Collaborating with major organised crime gangs in Sydney involved in murder, kidnapping, and extortion.
- Orchestrating fire-bombings of tobacco stores and a plot to desecrate the grave of a gangland rival's sister.
Most strikingly, he is suspected of conspiring with Iranian spies to fire-bomb a synagogue in December 2024, an act which contributed to Australia severing diplomatic ties with Iran. ASIO linked him to several antisemitic arson attacks after identifying a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf used in crimes connected to the tobacco war.
The Long Arm of the Law Finally Reaches a Fugitive
Hamad's arrest marks the culmination of a lengthy pursuit. For years, he evaded capture while allegedly building connections with other major crime figures even from within Barwon prison. Psychological reports suggest a personal tragedy—the death of his brother in a 2009 bombing in Iraq—hardened his reputation for ruthlessness.
The arrest was made in coordination with Iraq's General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, following approvals from the Supreme Judicial Council. Iraqi authorities state he is linked to outlaw gangs with global reach, responsible for murders, money laundering, and international drug trafficking operations.
This detention underscores the challenges of transnational organised crime and the importance of international judicial cooperation. Australian Federal Police have been contacted for comment regarding the next steps, which likely involve extradition proceedings.
