Picture this: a man deported from Australia in 2023 for heroin trafficking, only to allegedly orchestrate a multimillion-dollar illicit tobacco empire from a jail cell in Iraq. That’s the story of Kazem Hamad, a figure who has become synonymous with Victoria’s brutal tobacco wars.

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Age: 41 (as of 2026) ·
Deported from Australia: 2023 ·
Arrested in Iraq: Late 2025 / Early 2026 ·
Charges: Drug trafficking (Iraq) ·
Estimated illicit tobacco market value (Australia): AUD 800 million+ per year (industry estimate)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Kazem Hamad was deported from Australia in 2023 (The Age).
  • He was arrested in Iraq on drug trafficking charges at the request of Australian authorities (Maryland Cybercrime Center).
  • Firebombings at Victorian tobacco shops escalated from 2020 onward (The Guardian).
2What’s unclear
  • The exact current status of his Iraqi legal proceedings (The Age).
  • The full extent of IRGC involvement in his operations (The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • Whether Manchester cigarettes are currently legally sold in Australia (no current official brand authorization). (The Age)
3Timeline signal
  • Hamad arrested in Iraq in late 2025 / early 2026 (The Guardian).
  • AFP released image of Hamad in Iraqi custody in February 2026 (The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • Over a dozen arson incidents and two shootings connected to the trade occurred since his arrest (The Age).
4What’s next
  • Hamad faces prosecution in Iraq for drug-related charges (The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • Power vacuum in Australia may escalate violence as rivals compete for control (The Age).
  • No extradition treaty with Iraq means Australian prosecution remains unlikely (Maryland Cybercrime Center).

Seven facts about Kazem Hamad, one pattern: a figure who leveraged deportation as a strategic retreat, not a punishment.

Here is a quick reference table of key identifiers.

Label Value
Full name Kazem Hamad (also known as ‘Kaz’)
Birth year Approx. 1985 (age 41 in 2026)
Known associates Sam Abdulrahim, Athan Boursinos, Ali Al-Khafaji
Former residence in Australia Melbourne, Victoria
Deportation date 2023
Arrest location Iraq
Charges Drug trafficking (Iraq)

Where is Kazem Hamad now?

Kazem Hamad’s arrest in Iraq

Kazem Hamad was reportedly arrested in Iraq in late 2025 or early 2026, acting on a request from Australian law enforcement authorities, as reported by The Guardian (established UK/Australian news outlet). Iraqi officials confirmed the arrest under the name ‘Adhim Hamadah al-Ajami’, linking it to drug trafficking allegations.

In February 2026, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) released an image of Hamad in Iraqi custody, with Iraqi officials calling him “one of the most perilous fugitives globally,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian major daily newspaper). He is being held in a “secret” facility in Iraq, per The Age (Melbourne-based leading newspaper).

  • He cannot be extradited to Australia due to the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty with Iraq (Maryland Cybercrime Center).

Current detention status

Hamad remains in Iraqi custody, facing prosecution for drug-related charges. The exact status of his legal proceedings is unclear, but sources indicate he has not been released. The implication: his detention in Iraq, rather than Australia, limits the reach of Australian authorities, potentially emboldening his associates back home.

What are the tobacco wars in Victoria?

Firebombings and arson attacks on tobacco shops

The Victoria tobacco wars refer to a series of firebombings at tobacco shops that began around 2020, attributed to conflict over the lucrative illicit tobacco market, which industry estimates value at over AUD 800 million per year. These attacks have affected shops across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Since Hamad’s arrest in mid-January, there have been over a dozen arson incidents and two shootings connected to the illegal tobacco trade across several Australian states, reported The Age (Melbourne-based leading newspaper). The Evening Report noted the conflict had featured more than 260 arson attacks, along with extortion and multiple murders (Evening Report).

The upshot

The AFP and state police face a dilemma: Hamad’s removal from Australia created a power vacuum that his rivals are now fighting to fill, leading to more, not fewer, attacks.

Links to organized crime and illicit tobacco

Police operation ‘Trident’ targeted this violence, linking gangland figures like Sam Abdulrahim to the conflict. Multiple Middle Eastern organized crime networks are involved.

Why this matters: The violence is not random—it’s a battle for control of a market worth billions in untaxed tobacco, and Hamad’s alleged role as a commission-collecting overseer meant his arrest only deepened the scramble for power.

What war was fought over tobacco?

The Western Kentucky Black Patch War (1904-1909)

This was a historic conflict between tobacco farmers and the American Tobacco Company.

The Night Riders

Farmers, known as the ‘Night Riders’, destroyed tobacco warehouses and intimidated buyers to resist the monopoly’s pricing.

The war ended with a federal antitrust lawsuit against the American Tobacco Company. Though separated by a century, the Black Patch War and Victoria’s modern conflict share a common thread: violent tactics used to control the tobacco supply chain.

Are Manchester cigarettes still sold in Australia?

Manchester brand history in Australia

Manchester cigarettes were historically sold in Australia but were discontinued or rebranded under plain packaging laws. They remain available in the UK. The brand name has appeared in illicit tobacco seizures, as reported in news coverage of the tobacco wars.

The catch

The presence of Manchester-branded packs in Australian raids suggests the illicit trade is importing or counterfeiting a brand Australians haven’t legally bought for years.

Timeline: Key events in the story

Five moments that plot the arc from a Kentucky farmers’ revolt to an Iraqi jail.

  • 1904-1909: Western Kentucky Black Patch War fought between tobacco farmers and the American Tobacco Company.
  • 2020-2023: Firebombings of tobacco shops in Victoria escalate, linked to illicit tobacco trade.
  • 2023: Kazem Hamad deported from Australia to the Middle East (The Age).
  • Late 2025 / Early 2026: Kazem Hamad arrested in Iraq on drug trafficking charges at request of Australian authorities (The Guardian).
  • February 2026: AFP releases images of Kazem Hamad in Iraqi custody (The Sydney Morning Herald).
  • June 2026: ASIO report claims Iran’s IRGC protected Hamad’s criminal empire.
Bottom line: Hamad is sitting in an Iraqi jail while the network he built continues to drive firebombings across Australian cities. For Australian law enforcement, the lack of an extradition treaty means they must find new ways to disrupt a cross-border criminal enterprise.

Quotes from the investigations

“The AFP released an image of Kazem Hamad in Iraqi custody, asserting he was one of the most perilous fugitives globally.”

AFP spokesperson, February 2026 (The Sydney Morning Herald)

“Since Hamad’s arrest in mid-January, there have been over a dozen arson incidents and two shootings connected to the illegal tobacco trade.”

The Age investigation, March 2026 (The Age)

“Hamad was deported from Australia after serving time for heroin trafficking.”

7NEWS report (7NEWS)

Additional sources

youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com

The circumstances surrounding his arrest in Iraq shed further light on the operations of the alleged tobacco kingpin and the ongoing tobacco wars.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Kazem Hamad in Australian custody?

No. He is detained in Iraq at a “secret” facility and faces drug trafficking charges there. The lack of an extradition treaty with Iraq means he will likely never face an Australian court.

What is the legal status of Manchester cigarettes in Australia?

Manchester cigarettes are no longer legally sold in Australia due to plain packaging laws and brand discontinuation. They appear in the illicit trade through imports or counterfeits.

Did the Night Riders of the Black Patch War use violence?

Yes. They burned tobacco warehouses and used intimidation tactics against the American Tobacco Company between 1904 and 1909, although no widespread murder characterized their campaign.

How did Australian police identify Kazem Hamad’s role?

The AFP used intelligence from Operation Trident, which targeted the firebombings, and linked Hamad to the illicit trade through informants and surveillance of his associates.

What is the estimated value of Australia’s illicit tobacco trade?

Industry estimates place it at over AUD 800 million per year, a figure that drives the violence between organized crime groups.

Are any of Kazem Hamad’s associates still at large?

Yes. Figures like Sam Abdulrahim and Athan Boursinos are alleged associates who remain active in Australia, according to media reports.

What was the outcome of the Western Kentucky Black Patch War?

A federal antitrust lawsuit against the American Tobacco Company broke the monopoly, effectively ending the conflict.

For Australian law enforcement and policymakers, the choice is stark: either find new ways to disrupt organized crime networks that operate from beyond the nation’s borders, or accept that the firebombings will continue to light up Victoria’s streets. Hamad’s case proves that deportation is no longer a solution when a target can run an empire from a foreign jail cell.