Arrests, weapons seized in raids linked to major probe into illicit smoke trade

Police have seized weapons, cigarettes and drugs and made a string of arrests in a series of Victorian raids linked to a major operation which has ensnared accused illicit tobacco boss Maytham Hamad.

Police have seized 15 guns in a sweep of Victorian raids linked to a major operation which has ensnared accused illicit tobacco boss Maytham Hamad.

Hamad, whose brother is crime kingpin Kazem Hamad, has been hit with a series of charges as part of a huge cross-border investigation into the illicit smoke trade.

Maytham was this week arrested in Perth as part of a major joint operation into a Middle-Eastern crime gang linked to tobacco warfare.

He was picked up sporting a matching grey Nike tracksuit and slides.

A white Mercedes G-Class SUV — which can be worth up to $400,000 — was also nabbed by officers at the same address.

He is one of 13 people arrested over the lucrative illicit smoke trade this week.

The 29-year-old was charged with receiving, possessing, concealing, disposing of or dealing with any money or other property that is the proceeds of an offence.

Maytham Hamad has been hit with a series of charges as part of a huge cross-border investigation into the illicit smoke trade.

Maytham was this week arrested in Perth.

A Mercedes is seized at the address where Hamad was arrested. Picture: WA Police

Six raids in Victoria linked to the WA operation resulted in the seizure of 15 guns at a Sunbury address.

Officers from taskforce Lunar, set up in response to a wave of Melbourne tobacco shop firebombings, worked with members of the VIPER taskforce to carry out warrants at Sunbury, Wollert, Collingwood, Werribee and Altona Meadows.

“Police seized 15 firearms from the Sunbury address, along with approximately 2.4 million illicit cigarettes, a gel blaster and a stolen vehicle,” a Victoria Police statement said.

“The cigarettes are valued at approximately $2.4m with a tax excise avoidance of between $2.5-3m.”

A 29-year-old Sunbury man was arrested at the house and has been charged with being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a traffickable quantity of firearms and Commonwealth tax offences relating to illicit cigarettes.

He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 20.

Police say another 50,000 illicit cigarettes, 30kg of loose tobacco, vapes, a crossbow, ammunition, cash and drugs including cocaine, steroids and magic mushrooms were seized at other addresses.

A Wollert man, 26, is expected to be charged on summons with illicit tobacco offences and weapons offences.

A 28-year-old Collingwood man was charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences and bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 4.

Cigarettes seized by Western Australia Police. Picture: WA Police

Illicit smokes seized during the major cross-border sting. Picture: WA Police

An Officer man, 19, who was arrested over a suspicious fire at a tobacco store in Seville on February 11, was interviewed and released pending further inquiries.

Detective acting Superintendent Mark Hatt of the Victoria Police anti-gangs division said the force had worked closely with state and federal law enforcement for 18 months over the illicit smoke trade and connected violence.

Superintendent Hatt said police had been intent on targeting syndicate leaders and those who enable the offending and this remained a major priority.

“There is no doubt that the arrests in Victoria and Western Australia this week will have a significant impact on the organised crime groups operating in Victoria,” Superintendent Hatt said.

“These criminal syndicates are both reckless and relentless, with their actions putting the community at risk in order to gain control of a particularly lucrative illicit tobacco market.”

Lunar has arrested almost 70 people since being established in October last year in response to widespread arson and extortion.

A man is arrested in Officer in a probe linked to the illicit tobacco trade. Picture: Victoria Police

Superintendent Hatt branded Maytham Hamad a “puppeteer” of the illicit smoke trade.

“We’ve been working with Western Australia and other states in relation to him for a number of months,” he added at a Friday afternoon press conference.

“All of the people arrested in this operation were key players.”

Superintendent Hatt said those operating overseas — which includes Kazem Hamad — are in the force’s sights.

“They’re well and truly on our radar,” he added.

“Again, partnerships with our law enforcement agencies is integral to targeting them off shore as well.”

Commander Ranjeev Maharaj of Australian Border Force said the agency had been seizing record levels of illicit tobacco at the country’s ports, disrupting the gangs’ supply chains.

“Last financial year the ABF seized 1.7 billion illicit cigarettes in 120,000 consignments at the border, but this alone will not put an end to this insidious trade,” Mr Maharaj said.

“While we make every attempt to stop illicit tobacco at the border, we also work closely with our law enforcement partners to target the sale of illicit tobacco at the retail level by supporting these operations.”