Alleged tobacco war ringleader Majid Alibadi back behind bars

An alleged ringleader of Melbourne’s tobacco wars who was picked up from jail in a rented Rolls Royce is back behind bars after he was hit with fresh charges.

An alleged key player in Victoria's tobacco wars, Majid Alibadi, is back behind bars.

An alleged ringleader of Melbourne’s tobacco wars who was picked up from jail in a luxury car is back behind bars after he was hit with fresh charges.

Majid Alibadi was all smiles when he stepped into a rented Rolls Royce Ghost after he was released on bail from Melbourne Assessment Prison in February while facing 18 charges including extortion and arson for his alleged involvement in firebombings linked to the illicit tobacco trade.

But the 25-year-old from Epping — alleged to be a “lieutenant” for exiled crime kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad — is back in lockup facing new charges including car theft, arson and failing to wear a monitoring device while taking part in a drug rehabilitation program.

Mr Alibadi briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where his lawyer, Dermot Dann KC, said he was trying to secure a spot for his client in a different rehabilitation program before he made another bid for bail.

Majid Alibadi, accused ringleader of a crime syndicate at the centre of the Victorian tobacco wars, leaves an earlier court appearance in a Rolls Royce. Picture: 9 News

In February, Mr Alibadi was granted bail with a $150,000 surety and on the condition he attend a rehabilitation facility, surrender his passport, report to a police station three times a week and abide by a curfew.

Police allege he was in direct contact with Kazem Hamad, 40, who is based in the Middle East and is accused of running a major organised crime syndicate in Melbourne.

Hamad, who was deported to Iraq last year after serving a prison term for drug trafficking, has allegedly orchestrated dozens of tobacco shop arson attacks as part of a bitter turf war with the rival Haddara crime family.

Mr Alibadi is facing new charges.

A remand summary from Mr Alibadi’s bail application alleges the Hamad syndicate is involved in “extreme acts of violence up to and including murder”, the importation and distribution of illicit tobacco, extortions and arsons.

The Haddara clan controlled Victoria’s illegal tobacco market but have reportedly ceded control to the Hamad syndicate following the relentless arson attacks.

Mr Alibadi will return to court on May 2.