Exiled gangland boss Kazem Hamad linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars reportedly arrested in Iraq

<p>Hamad reportedly arrested on behalf of Australian authorities for alleged drug trafficking</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jan/14/adelaide-festival-writers-week-lousie-adler-politics-reaction-peter-malinauskas-victoria-bushfires-queensland-floods-anthony-albanese-labor-sussan-ley-coalition-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>An exiled underworld boss connected to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/12/victoria-tobacconist-firebombings-fit-and-proper-test">Victoria’s ongoing tobacco wars</a> has reportedly been arrested in Iraq.</p><p>Kazem “Kaz” Hamad was arrested on behalf of Australian law enforcement authorities for alleged drug trafficking, according to a <a href="https://www.sjc.iq/ncijcen.78853/">statement</a> from the Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation on Monday night.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/14/kazem-hamad-linked-to-victoria-tobacco-wars-iraq-arrest-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →