Australian authorities previously shared information with Iraqi officials, leading to the arrest of Hamad in Iraq and disrupting his alleged Australian criminal network.

Hamad is on Australia’s priority organised crime list and is deemed a national security threat by the AFP due to illicit tobacco involvement, violence, and suspected links to a 2024 Adass Israel synagogue firebombing on behalf of Iran.

Iraqi authorities say Hamad was arrested with coordination from Iraq’s narcotics directorate and the First Karkh Investigation Court, following approvals from the Supreme Judicial Council.

A former underworld figure tied to Victoria’s tobacco shop turf war, Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, has reportedly been arrested in Iraq on drug trafficking allegations.

In Iraqi statements, Hamad is referred to by multiple spellings (Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami), with AFP statements issued on a Tuesday after the arrest report.

Background notes describe Hamad as leading a powerful illicit tobacco cartel in Australia, with alleged control of market segments and a global criminal network spanning the Middle East and Australia.

Multiple sources describe Hamad’s influence in the underworld and alleged global criminal activities, with the AFP commissioner framing the case as a national security issue.

It remains unclear whether Hamad will be extradited or kept in Iraqi custody, given his fortified base in Iraq and alleged ties to Iraqi security services, complicating a potential transfer to Australia.

Victorian police describe a tobacco-related turf war involving outlaw motorcycle gangs and Middle Eastern organized crime, with Taskforce Lunar established in 2023 to counter illicit tobacco trade.

Iraq’s statement links Hamad to importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia, associating him with Sydney gangs involved in shootings, extortion, and drug trafficking.

The Hamad syndicate is alleged to have influenced Melbourne’s gangland scene, with offenses including arsons, extortion, shootings, and illicit tobacco trafficking after Hamad’s 2023 release and deportation to Iraq.

Iraq’s statement describes Hamad as among the world’s most dangerous criminals, accusing him of heroin smuggling and involvement with major organised crime groups across Australia and the Middle East.