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Iraq Jails Australia-Linked Drug Trafficker for Life - Shafaq News
Iraqi authorities said the former Melbourne gang leader was responsible for importing large quantities of drugs and linked him to transnational crime networks.
- On Tuesday, an Iraqi court sentenced former Melbourne gang boss Kazem "Kaz" Hamad to life imprisonment for drug trafficking, with the National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation confirming the verdict and asset confiscation.
- Hamad, deported from Australia in 2023, established the "313" syndicate from Iraq, becoming a dominant force controlling Australia's illicit tobacco market and orchestrating violent firebombings across Melbourne.
- Authorities arrested Hamad's brother, Maytham Hamad, for dealing with $1 million in crime proceeds, while the syndicate enforced control through extortion fees known as the "Kaz tax" in Melbourne.
- The Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq confirmed the sentencing followed Australian intelligence assistance, while the Australian Federal Police noted the work of their "important partner" but declined further comment.
- Despite the conviction, the gang's influence persists under new leadership including 23-year-old Ali al-Huseini, forcing detectives to address pressure regarding intelligence-sharing policies with death-penalty jurisdictions.
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Sydney Morning Herald+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Melbourne crime boss Kaz Hamad sentenced to life in jail
Hamad was arrested by Iraqi authorities in January, but law enforcement in Australia fear his jailing will fail to make a dent in Melbourne’s crime scene.
·North Sydney, Australia
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Breaking: Former Melbourne organised crime kingpin sentenced to life in Iraq prison
Kazem Hamad, a former Melbourne organised crime kingpin who was deported to Iraq in 2023, has been sentenced to life in jail by an Iraqi court after being convicted of drug trafficking.
·Ultimo, Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 25%
R 25%
Factuality
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