Nazir Haddara, Isse Isse and Hassan Jassem front court over alleged connections to major illegal tobacco syndicate

The alleged ringleader of a major Victorian illegal tobacco syndicate has been arrested at Melbourne Airport as cops thwart alleged attempt to escape the country.

The alleged ringleader of an illegal Victorian tobacco syndicate has been caught allegedly trying to flee the country, after cash was found hidden in nappies at his Hoppers Crossing home.

Nazir Haddara, 21, Isse Isse, 26, and Hassan Jassem fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing charges linked to the ongoing tobacco wars engulfing Victoria.

The three men appeared from police custody after they were arrested at various locations across the state on Tuesday in a statewide sting that police say struck a $30m blow against the illicit tobacco syndicate.

Police have alleged the Haddara family is one of the major operators of Victoria’s illegal tobacco sector, which allegedly controls dozens of stores across Melbourne.

Mr Haddara – of Hoppers Crossing – was arrested by police at Melbourne Airport on October 22, where police alleged he was attempting to flee to Dubai.

He faces charges including directing the activities of a criminal organisation, possession of tobacco products with the intent of defrauding, possessing proceeds of crime and selling and distributing e-cigarettes.

A tobacconist convenience store the latest to be firebombed on October 22 on St Georges Rd in Thornbury. Picture: Jason Edwards

In court on Wednesday, police opposed a bail application made by Mr Haddara’s legal team, saying he was an “unacceptable risk”.

In evidence given by detective Senior Constable Jessica Keenan, police alleged Mr Haddara was involved with stores selling illicit tobacco products in Kyabram, Seymour, Echuca, Ararat, Maryborough, Warrnambool, Werribee, various suburbs throughout Geelong, Boronia, Bundoora, Dallas Kensington and Hoppers Crossing.

From January to August this year, police tracked an alleged $2.68m in sales from these stores, with the profits going directly into a Commonwealth Bank account where Mr Haddara was the sole signatory.

Police alleged Mr Haddara used pseudonyms including “Sully” to communicate with associates through encrypted apps including WhatsApp and Signal, in order to “avoid detection and maintain clandestine operations”.

The court heard Mr Haddara had also allegedly sifted thousands of dollars through various bank accounts between 2022 and 2024.

Police seized an alleged $30,000 cash hidden in nappies at Mr Haddara’s Hoppers Crossing home, a green Lamborghini, three keys labelled Echuca, Laverton and Plaza and various mobile phones.

Sen Constable Keenan told the court police believed Mr Haddara to be “the most culpable for the offending carried out by the syndicate”.

“Our concern is, given the amount of money that he has readily available, it provides him the ability to flee,” she said.

“The syndicate continues to grow and expand as a criminal business despite police intervention.”

Police also alleged Mr Haddara was linked to “some of the arson attacks”.

The court heard Mr Jassem and Mr Haddara were cousins as police alleged Mr Jassem was a “lower ranked” member of the syndicate.

Mr Jassem appeared via video link from Bendigo police station after he was arrested on Tuesday in an Echuca hotel room, where police allege they seized 15,000 cigarettes, 5kgs of loose tobacco, alongside other illegal tobacco products including vapes.

A huge pile of Double Happiness cigarettes were seized from a home in Truganina.

Police also raided his home where they allegedly seized $15,000 cash and a mobile phone.

Detective Senior Constable Keenan told the court a surveillance operation had seen Mr Jassem allegedly trading illicit tobacco from a vehicle at the Seymour Woolworths carpark throughout 2024.

Footscray West man Isse Isse also appeared, facing 20 charges including Commonwealth offences of directing the activities of a criminal organisation and possession of tobacco products with the intent of defrauding alongside accusations of assault and threats to kill.

He did not apply for bail.

Mr Haddara and Mr Jassem will appear before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for the second part of their bail applications.