Police Arrest 10 Alleged Members of Tobacco Extortion Syndicate in Melbourne Raids

Authorities link the arrests to an offshore crime leader and ongoing violence in Victoria's two-year tobacco war.

Police conducted early morning raids across 14 properties in Melbourne's north-west, seizing weapons, cash, and illicit tobacco products.
Ten individuals, aged 16 to 26, were arrested and charged with extortion for allegedly targeting tobacco shop owners with threats and demands for protection payments.
The syndicate, allegedly led by offshore crime figure Kazem Hamad, is accused of extorting nearly $1 million monthly from tobacco retailers in Victoria.
Authorities disrupted two planned firebombings and uncovered handwritten extortion notes, GPS trackers, and high-powered firearms during the raids.
The tobacco war, ongoing since 2023, has been linked to over 100 firebombings and three fatal shootings, including the murder of professional boxer Sam Abdulrahim.