The Source: Convicted drug boss Fadi Haddara throws gangster bling birthday celebration

One-time drug trafficker Fadi Haddara has pivoted to showbusiness since being released from jail — and his recently birthday had plenty of razzle dazzle.

Haddara (middle) celebrates his birthday.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

Former ace kickboxer, businessman and police target Fadi Haddara is a versatile man.

Haddara has pivoted into the entertainment business in recent years, bringing some top-line entertainers here from the Middle East.

The entrepreneur appears to enjoy some strong personal links with at least one of the big names, if social media is anything to go by.

A video recently posted on TikTok shows leading performer, Rachid Fouani, belting out his version of Happy Birthday for Haddara.

Smiling guests are shown celebrating the big night as two extravagant cakes are carried in bearing the face of the birthday boy.

Haddara has been a busy man of late, joining with Walid Abdo to promote the tour of chart-topping Lebanese singer Mohanad Zaiter.

Mouhamad Khairy and Nancy Nasrallah, also big is Beirut, are others to have been brought here by the entrepreneur in recent times.

Fadi Haddara and Waleed Haddara depart the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2020.

Any negative feedback on these artists is probably best not directed at Haddara, regarded as a hard man extremely well-connected with some real heavy-hitters in Melbourne’s underworld.

In 2015, he was jailed after being arrested as part of Victoria Police’s Operation Skyborn.

He pleaded guilty after being caught selling $155,000 of methamphetamine, two handguns and a sawn-off rifle to undercover officers.

Recorded conversations revealed he carefully used code words and ended chats when he thought they were too obviously referring to his activities.

Underworld observers with good memories will recall the extended period of conflict between the Haddara family and the rival Chaouk clan more than a decade ago.

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