Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad arrested in Iraq, AFP confirm: Labelled ‘one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world’

Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad, the gangland boss who allegedly heads the biggest illicit tobacco cartel in Australia, has been arrested in Iraq in a joint operation after the Australian Federal Police shared information.

The 41-year-old is Australia’s illicit tobacco king, supplying millions of illegally imported cigarettes which are sold brazenly across the country.

The West Australian’s Ben Harvey and Caleb Runciman reported in 2025 that Hamad’s smokes are half the price of mainstream Winfield and Peter Jackson smokes, going for around $25, but with each packet costing the kingpin as little as $1, creating an enormous margin.

Iraq’s National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC) issued a statement on Tuesday announcing the arrest, saying it acted on an “official request from Australia”.

“The accused individual, Kadhim Malik Hamad Rabah al-Hajami, was arrested in coordination 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 NCIJC statement said.

The statement went on to call Hamad “one of the most dangerous wanted men in the world”.

“He is responsible for importing large quantities of drugs into Iraq and Australia, as well as smuggling heroin,” the statement continued.

“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.

“Furthermore, he is involved with outlaw gangs that have extensive influence within Australia and the Middle East and are responsible for carrying out murders, shootings, money laundering, fraud, assaults, arson, and drug trafficking on a global level.”

On Wednesday afternoon, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed Hamad, whom she saw as priority number one, had been captured.

“Last year I announced my number one target - an alleged offshore offender who I called a national security threat to this country,” Commissioner Barrett said.

“While the AFP had been working with domestic partners to dismantle this alleged offender’s criminal network, a number of significant events required the AFP to supercharge its efforts in targeting this alleged offender offshore.”

The Commissioner revealed Hamad’s capture occurred after the AFP shared information with Iraqi officials, but said the arrest was Iraq’s decision.

“Late last year, the AFP provided information to law enforcement officials in Iraq about this alleged offender,” she said.

“Iraqi officials have made an independent decision to arrest this alleged offender after launching their own criminal investigation.

“This arrest is a significant disruption to an alleged serious criminal and his alleged criminal enterprise in Australia.

“The AFP thanks the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation in Iraq.”

In 2025, WA Police probed Hamad’s potential involvement in a string of incidents involving The Firkin pub in Ballajura, tobacconist and perfume shop Candy Station and The Smoke Station in Cannington.

In January, 27-year-old Katie Tangey was killed when arsonists firebombed the wrong house in Melbourne.

Victorian Police believe Hamad ordered the attack.

The infamous criminal was born in Iraq in 1984, moving to Australia in 1998 when his family migrated.

By age 17, in 2001, Hamad had been arrested in Australia for the first time.

Since then, Hamad has been involved in multiple high-profile crime cases, which included kidnapping, bashing, drug trafficking and organised crime involvement.

In 2015, he was moved to Christmas Island following his Australian permanent residency status being revoked.

There, he spent eight years in the Immigration Detention Centre, before he was deported to Iraq.

Hamad didn’t stay long in Iraq, instead, he moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he has allegedly continued to call the shots over organised crime in Australia.

He has allegedly played a key role in firebombings of tobacco stores in Australia, mainly in Victoria, as the illegal supply war erupted across corner shops.

Hamad, according to Victoria Police, has been a key player in the underworld gangland wars.

He has also been linked by authorities to the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea.

In recent years, Hamad was forced to live in Iraq after he was deported from the United Arab Emirates

It is unclear if Hamad will return to Australia or be charges and prosecuted by Iraqi law enforcement.