Ali Al-Khafaji sentenced in Melbourne County Court for trafficking a commercial amount of meth

A Lalor man who witnessed “atrocities” during the downfall of Saddam Hussein’s brutal regime has been busted for drug-trafficking.

Ali Al-Khafaji sentenced to five years in prison with a two year and four month non parole period, for trafficking a commercial amount of meth.

A man who witnessed “atrocities” during the downfall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime has been jailed for trafficking meth and possessing tens of thousands of dollars in drug-generated cash

Lalor's Ali Al-Khafaji, 26, fronted Melbourne County Court on Tuesday November 15, charged with four offences, including possessing a commercially trafficable amount of methamphetamines.

But Al-Khafaji could be freed in a little over six months after pleading guilty with time served

Al-Khafaji was arrested outside his home in November 2019, while carrying a satchel bag.

Police searched Al-Khafaji’s bag and home, finding $9490 and two mobile phones in his bag, and a further three zip-lock bags containing 432.7g of methamphetamines, 52.6g of methamphetamines and 302g of cocaine, alongside $37,050 inside his house.

Other items found linked to trafficking charges included scales and more plastic zip-lock bags.

Al-Khafaji pleaded guilty to possessing over 100 times a trafficable quantity and possessing proceeds of crime, referring to the total of $46,540 cash found.

He was held in custody from November 21, 2019 until September 29, 2020, when bail was granted, but was subsequently revoked in August 2021, when he was arrested for a separate matter.

Judge Wendy Wilmouth said trafficking a commercial amount of drugs as “very serious offending”.

In sentencing, Judge Wilmouth took his background into consideration.

Al-Khafaji’s family left Iraq for Australia in 2007 on protection visas, after witnessing “atrocities occurring after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime and throughout the American occupation.”

“You returned to Iraq in 2010 to visit your terminally ill grandmother who died shortly after your visit,” Judge Wilmouth said.

“You were greatly affected by that.”

The court heard Al-Khafaji left school midway through Year 10 after suffering bullying when first began using drugs.

“In February 2022, you were assessed by a psychologist and diagnosed with complex PTSD, featuring anxiety and depression,” Judge Wilmouth said.

“This disorder had its origins in the traumatic and distressing experiences of your early childhood, which contributed to a further diagnosis of polysubstance abuse disorder, where you attempted to self medicate.”

The court heard Al-Khafaji was using cocaine and methamphetamines at the time of his offending, and would sometimes be awake for up to four days.

Because Al-Khafaji pleaded guilty, and demonstrated regret over his offending in a letter to the court, Judge Wilmouth said he was entitled to a “significant discount” to sentencing.

“If you’d pleaded not guilty, I would have sentenced you seven years with a non-parole period of four years,” she said.

Judge Wilmouth sentenced Al-Khafaji to five years’ jail, with a two year and four month non parole period.

Al-Khafaji has already served 666 days on remand.

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