Lead

A former Melbourne organised crime figure, Kazem Hamad, has been sentenced to life in jail by an Iraqi court after being convicted of drug trafficking, according to reports from ABC Australia. Hamad, also known as Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami, was deported to Iraq in 2023 and was alleged to be one of the key players in Melbourne's tobacco wars.

The Iraqi National Center for International Judicial Cooperation announced the life sentence, stating that Hamad was responsible for importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia. The centre described him as one of the "most wanted individuals by Iraqi and international judiciaries," linking him to international crime networks involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, extortion, and organised violence.

Despite his imprisonment, violence linked to the illicit tobacco trade continues to grip Victoria, with recent attacks reported even in small towns far from Melbourne.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia's reports provide a detailed account of Hamad's sentencing and its aftermath. One report focuses on the sentencing itself, highlighting the Iraqi court's decision and Hamad's alleged role in the tobacco wars, including his status as a person of interest in firebombings at Victorian tobacco shops and businesses.

A second ABC Australia report takes an investigative approach, examining the ongoing impact of Hamad's cartel despite his arrest. It details the expansion of the cartel's interests from tobacco to clubs, bars, and restaurants, and the identification of new enforcers allegedly working on its behalf. The report also notes that attacks on tobacco stores continued after Hamad's arrest, including a ramming and firebombing in Mooroopna in February.

Both reports attribute information to official sources, such as the Iraqi judicial centre and the Australian Federal Police, while the second report incorporates on-the-ground observations from the Goulburn Valley.

Key Claims

  • Kazem Hamad was sentenced to life in prison by an Iraqi court after being convicted of drug trafficking, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Hamad was deported to Iraq in 2023 following a heroin trafficking conviction in Australia, according to the same outlet.
  • The Iraqi National Center for International Judicial Cooperation stated that Hamad was linked to international crime networks involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, extortion, and organised violence.
  • Hamad has been a person of interest in firebombings at Victorian tobacco shops and businesses, ABC Australia reported.
  • His arrest in Iraq was announced in January after the Australian Federal Police provided information to local authorities in late 2025.
  • Despite the arrest, attacks on tobacco stores continued, including an incident in Mooroopna in February where a shop was rammed and firebombed.
  • The Hamad cartel, also known as The Commission, expanded its interests from tobacco to clubs, bars, and restaurants, according to Victorian investigators.
  • Two men have been identified by investigators as alleged enforcers for the Hamad syndicate. One of them, Jesse Hadchiti, was arrested for allegedly recruiting low-level foot soldiers to carry out arsons and extortions. A 19-year-old man was also charged with various offences after being arrested by officers working as part of Operation Eclipse.

Perspectives

Iraqi authorities, through the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, view Hamad's sentencing as a significant judicial action, describing him as one of the world's most dangerous wanted individuals. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett called the arrest a "significant disruption" to Hamad's cartel in Australia, and it was seen as a major achievement for the force. However, local observers and investigators in Victoria note that the violence has not ceased, with continued attacks and the emergence of new figures allegedly continuing the syndicate's activities.