An exiled underworld boss connected to Victoria’s ongoing tobacco wars has reportedly been arrested in Iraq.
Kazem “Kaz” Hamad was arrested on behalf of Australian law enforcement authorities for alleged drug trafficking, according to a statement from the Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation on Monday night.
The accused is “one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world”, the statement alleges.
The Australian Federal Police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, released a statement on Tuesday that did not name Hamad but detailed efforts to find an “alleged offshore offender”, who the statement accused of being a “number one target” and a “national security threat to this country”.
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Barrett said while the AFP had been working with state police to “dismantle this alleged offender’s criminal network, a number of significant events required the AFP to supercharge its efforts” to find him, including sending members overseas to gather intelligence and meet with foreign law enforcement officials.
She said late last year, the AFP provided information officials in Iraq about the alleged offender.
“Iraqi officials have made an independent decision to arrest this alleged offender after launching their own criminal investigation,” Barrett said.
“This arrest is a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia.”
She thanked Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation.
Multiple Australian law enforcement sources have previously confirmed Hamad is thought of as an influential figure in the underworld, and he has been linked to Victoria’s ongoing turf war over tobacco shops.
Victorian police have previously said the violence is largely being fought by underworld figures, including outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern organised crime groups.
They established Taskforce Lunar in October 2023, after an increase in organised crime activity linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
The Iraqi statement issued on Tuesday refers to Hamad as “Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami”.
“The accused individual … was arrested in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, after obtaining the necessary approvals from the Supreme Judicial Council to conduct investigations against him,” the statement reads.
“The proceedings were initiated by the First Karkh Investigation Court, which specialises in drug cases.”
The statement alleges Hamad is allegedly responsible for “importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia, as well as smuggling heroin”.
“He is also involved with the most prominent organised crime gangs in Australia – Sydney, responsible for shootings, murders, kidnappings, violent assaults, extortion, and drug imports,” it alleges.
Iraqi authorities allege he is involved with outlaw gangs that have extensive influence within Australia and the Middle East.
“[They] are responsible for carrying out murders, shootings, money laundering, fraud, assaults, arson, and drug trafficking on a global level.”