Tobacco wars erupt in Sydney as man allegedly has toe cut off in attempted underworld rip

Tobacco wars have erupted in Sydney with a man allegedly having a toe cut off and two others being savagely bashed during a foiled attempt to steal goods from a warehouse in the city’s southwest.

Tobacco wars have erupted on Sydney’s streets with one man allegedly having a toe cut off and two others being savagely bashed, during a foiled attempt to steal more than one tonne of illegal tobacco.

Ahamad Dudu, 26, and Mohamad Kaddour, 24, were allegedly stopped by NSW Police among a group of eight men fleeing a Condell Park industrial unit late on Saturday, January 4.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal police allege that in the hour-and-a-half before, Dudu, Kaddour and six other people – who are currently the subject of a major manhunt – had targeted a rival tobacco syndicate’s warehouse and attempted to steal their goods, only to set off an alarm.

Court documents tendered during a bail application by Dudu in Bankstown Local Court on Monday outline how that alarm resulted in a group of three men linked to the unit arriving at the scene – only to allegedly be set upon by Dudu, Kaddour and the men they were with.

Inside the Condell Park warehouse were an alleged “barbaric” attack over illegal tobacco took place on January 4. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Police allege after being threatened with weapons and pulled from their vehicle, the trio were bound at the hands and feet and subjected to a “violent and barbaric” attack – that included one of them having a big toe “partially severed”.

“The victims were detained … for a period of 15-30 mins and were in fear of their life,” the documents state.

Police arrived at the unit on Allingham St about 10.45pm on Saturday, sending the alleged attackers running. Picture: Jeremy Piper

As the three men sat beaten and bound inside the unit, a call was made to Triple-zero and two minutes later at 10.45pm police arrived at the industrial estate, causing the group of attackers to attempt to flee.

During the attempted scatter Dudu and Kaddour were stopped by officers, with both allegedly found with “gloves and face coverings”.

Police opposed Dudu’s bid for freedom on Monday, citing that if he was released back into the community he may impact the ability of detectives “to find out who those (outstanding) offenders are”.

Dudu was represented by barrister Troy Edwards SC and solicitor Talal Krayem, with Mr Edwards telling the court it would be “difficult” for the prosecution to prove their allegation his client was part of a joint criminal enterprise with Kaddour and the other unknown men who are remain at large.

Ahamad Dudu’s solicitor Talal Krayem leaves Bankstown Local Court on Monday. Picture: Jeremy Piper

But Magistrate Glenn Walsh said despite Dudu having a young child and proposed conditions including a $2 million surety and wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet, the bail agreement would ultimately be nothing more “than a piece of paper”.

“It doesn’t stop somebody from committing an offence,” Magistrate Walsh said.

“He has criminal connections, that is, a group of men who at 9.30pm have broken into a premises … over a well known conflict.

“He has significant family connections, it did not stop him from being out and about at 9.30pm on a Saturday night. I therefore cannot see that a piece of paper is going to stop him from doing this again.”

An abandoned van that had been heavily fingerprinted by NSW Police outside the industrial unit. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Both Dudu and Kaddour were charged with aggravated break and enter, and take/detain in company.

Dudu was remanded in custody until his next court date on March 5, while Kaddour made no application for bail and will return to court on January 13.

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Originally published as Tobacco wars erupt in Sydney as man allegedly has toe cut off in attempted underworld rip