Notorious Crime Figure Kazem Hamad Arrested in Iraq Following Australian Request

Kazem Hamad, identified by Australian authorities as a significant figure in organized crime, has been arrested in Iraq following an official request from Australia. Iraqi authorities announced the arrest in mid-January, labeling Hamad "one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world." He faces allegations of international drug trafficking, involvement in serious organized crime activities in Australia, and connections to the illicit tobacco trade.

Arrest and Official Confirmation

Hamad, known by various aliases including Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami, Kaz, Abu Samir, and old mate, was detained by Iraqi authorities. The arrest was a coordinated effort involving Iraq's General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs, with proceedings initiated by the First Karkh Investigation Court, which specializes in drug cases. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) had shared critical information with Iraqi authorities in October prior to the arrest.

Following his detention, the AFP released two images showing Hamad in Iraqi custody. The images depict him in a T-shirt and yellow prison attire, holding a sign in Arabic indicating his prosecution for narcotic offenses. While some concerns regarding the authenticity of the images due to anomalies were raised, the AFP stated they had not altered the images and received them directly from Iraqi authorities. Hamad currently remains in custody at an undisclosed location in Iraq.

Background and Deportation

Hamad, 41, arrived in Australia from Iraq in the late 1990s and subsequently became deeply involved in criminal activities. In July 2023, he was deported from Australia after completing an eight-year prison sentence for heroin trafficking. He had been residing in the Middle East for approximately three years prior to his recent arrest. Australian law enforcement sources had previously identified Hamad as a top "Australian priority organisation target," with AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett having declared him a national security threat.

Allegations of Criminal Activities

Iraqi authorities allege that Hamad is responsible for importing large quantities of drugs, including heroin, into both Iraq and Australia. He is also accused of involvement with prominent organized crime gangs in Australia, particularly in Sydney. These gangs are linked to a wide range of criminal activities, including shootings, murders, kidnappings, violent assaults, extortion, and drug imports.

Further allegations connect Hamad to outlaw gangs operating in Australia and the Middle East, implicated in murders, shootings, money laundering, fraud, assaults, arson, and global drug trafficking.

Illicit Tobacco Market: A Violent Control

Following his deportation, police suspect Hamad and his syndicate took control of significant parts of the illicit tobacco market and influenced gangland activities in Melbourne. Victoria Police intelligence reports link the Hamad syndicate (also known as the 313s, Kaz’s Boys, or the Iraqis) to numerous serious offenses. These include arsons, extortions, and shootings directly connected to the illicit tobacco trade, as well as its importation and distribution.

A violent conflict over the illicit tobacco market in Victoria has unfolded over the last three years, involving firebombings, extortion, shootings, and fatalities. Hamad was specifically identified as a person of interest in relation to firebombings at Victorian tobacco establishments. In previous Victorian court proceedings, police stated their belief that Hamad orchestrated firebomb attacks against rivals or Melbourne shop owners who resisted alleged extortion, with these fees reportedly known as the "Kaz tax."

Rohan Pike, a former AFP officer and illicit tobacco expert, alleged Hamad is a significant figure in Australia's illicit tobacco market, potentially controlling up to 90 percent in some western states, from overseas production to retail distribution.

Key Incidents Linked to the Syndicate

Police investigations have linked Hamad and his syndicate to several significant incidents:

• Adass Israel Synagogue Firebombing: Senior police confirmed Hamad was under investigation concerning the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024. The AFP previously alleged that Hamad's organized crime networks facilitated this event, which the AFP attributed to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

• Bali Dispute and Melbourne Crime Spree: A dispute reportedly originating in Bali in late December led to a series of targeted home invasions, arsons, attempted arsons, and firearm incidents in Melbourne in early January. These incidents began after a group of men from Melbourne allegedly had a dispute with Ali Ramos, an organized crime figure associated with the Hamad syndicate, who reportedly demanded an extortion fee and threatened repercussions upon their return to Melbourne.

  • Subsequent events included an aggravated home invasion in Caroline Springs, an attempted firebombing and shots fired into a home in Taylors Hill (later destroyed by firebombing), a violent home invasion in Thornhill Park, a 17-year-old being shot in the neck in Burnside Heights, and a shooting incident in Hillside.
  • Ahmad Taha and Waile Omer, both 18, along with a 17-year-old, were arrested and charged in connection with these events. They were described as alleged "foot soldiers" for the Hamad syndicate.

Investigation and International Cooperation

Hamad's arrest resulted from an "independent decision" by the Iraqi judiciary, with the AFP supporting the Iraqi investigation by providing operational information related to crimes believed to have been committed or directed by Hamad or his syndicate in Australia. Federal investigators recently traveled to Iraq to provide further assistance and receive information from local authorities.

The AFP's multi-month investigation into Hamad's activities is known as Operation Carmen. This task force commenced after Victoria Police's Taskforce Lunar, which was established following a series of firebombings, two murders, and an attempted grave desecration allegedly linked to Hamad after his release from prison.

Syndicate Impact and Ongoing Operations

The AFP notes that Hamad’s syndicate has a presence across five states and one territory in Australia. Since his arrest, the syndicate has reportedly shown signs of fracturing due to a lack of leadership, internal conflicts, and dysfunction. The AFP states this fracturing is creating new opportunities for investigators.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett has issued a warning to Hamad's syndicate, emphasizing that the AFP's investigation into their activities continues despite Hamad's arrest, with a commitment to dismantling the syndicate and identifying all individuals linked to the crime group.

Extradition Challenges

The possibility of Hamad facing charges in Australia is complex due to the absence of a direct extradition treaty with Iraq. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke indicated that while any decision on Australian charges or extradition would be made later, he did not desire Hamad's return to Australia but wished for him to remain incarcerated.

Human rights lawyer Greg Barns commented that Hamad's legal fate is currently under the jurisdiction of Iraqi courts, noting that while Australia has direct extradition agreements with some nations, cooperation with countries like Iraq, based on inherited treaties, can vary. Barns emphasized that these are allegations and Hamad retains a presumption of innocence, but resisting extradition requests for serious allegations can be challenging.