Gangland figure Kazem Hamad on watch as illicit tobacco syndicate ‘The Commission’ fires up again

An illicit tobacco syndicate linked to the murder of Middle Eastern crime figure Mohammed “Afghan Ali” Keshtiar is back — and it’s ready for revenge on a rival underworld group.

Melbourne illicit tobacco “commission” is active again, a year after it was linked to the murder of Mohammed ­“Afghan Ali” Keshtiar.

The brutal South Yarra street hit on Keshtiar remains unsolved amid silence from gangland figures who are thought to hold the answers.

Keshtiar was aligned to the state’s major illicit tobacco syndicate at the time of his murder, which unfolded swiftly in Almeida Crescent on the night of August 4.

A hit team was waiting as he walked home to his apartment from a gym in one of the earliest signs the tobacco “war” was raging out of control.

Exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad had aggressively moved into the market last year, leading to the brawling between rival gangs that has resulted in more than 70 arson attacks on tobacconists and other businesses.

Mohammed ‘Afghan Ali’ Keshtiar was killed in a drive-by shooting in South Yarra last August.

In the aftermath of the Keshtiar killing came claims he had been involved with Middle Eastern organised crime and a senior bikie in a shadowy outlaw group referred to as “the commission”.

Rivals warned the group – which controlled distribution in the illegal sector – to close within five days after the South Yarra ambush.

“If you do not comply, you will follow in the footsteps of your fellow commission colleague. Kind regards, your worst enemy,” a message distributed among gangland figures said.

There are now underworld rumblings that the commission has taken to returning fire with fire to combat the Hamad syndicate.

The Herald Sun has been told of attacks on stores whose operators are co-operating with Hamad.

No charges have been laid over the suspected contract hit on Keshtiar, and police have said almost nothing publicly about the death of the man who was regarded as one of the Middle Eastern organised crime world’s heaviest hitters in Melbourne.

Keshtiar was something of an enigma in the underworld, hated by some but a man who forged deep bonds with those on his side during frequently dangerous times.

Keshtiar was linked to the state’s major illicit tobacco syndicate at the time of his death.

One former prison inmate said Keshtiar had kept him safe when he did a jail term as a young man.

“He took me under his wing, he was extremely loyal,” the former inmate said. “If he gave you his word, he would do it.”

The ex-prisoner said Keshtiar was an intelligent pragmatist who, although aligned with the Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang, was prepared to work with other crime factions when necessary

“I won’t lie, he was crazy, his name instilled fear,” the source said.

Though some spoke highly of him, the fact remained that Keshtiar was a nightmare figure for others.

He was born in Afghanistan and came to Australia with his family as a 19-year-old, later becoming enmeshed in criminal networks in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.

Kazem Hamad aggressively moved into the tobacco market last year.

In May 2000, Keshtiar assaulted a security guard at the Dome nightclub in Prahran before also fighting with staff and leaving via a back door.

He returned soon after and shot an employee in the thigh.

Three years later, Keshtiar shot and wounded his girlfriend and a mate at a Burwood house.

He tried to blame slain gangland figure Sam Zayat for the shooting but failed and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Keshtiar was for years regarded as a recruiter for the Mongols bikie gang, and was a major target of the anti-organised crime Echo task force.

He was involved in drug trafficking and gun-running for years, before expanding into the illicit tobacco sphere.

Keshtiar had recently moved to an apartment complex near where he died, probably attracted by the swipe access and secure parking favoured by many crime figures.

He had good reason to be worried about safety.

In 2017, he had escaped an underworld plot against him that was badly botched and ­resulted in the death of the wrong target.

Underworld rumblings suggest The Commision is back and returning fire on fire with Hamad’s syndicate.

Zabi Ezebyar had arrived at a Narre Warren house linked to Keshtiar when a panicked gunman opened fire on the unintended target.

Comanchero Hasan Topal, the suspected shooter, has since fled overseas, but there were other enemies. The shooters at South Yarra were clearly armed with inside ­information and had not come across their victim by accident.

After he was shot dead last year, a black ute was found abandoned near where Keshtiar fell, and an incinerated ­vehicle was found at Rowville, meaning the shooters had at least three sets of wheels in place for their getaway.

Dozens of mourners gathered at Keshtiar’s burial where they surrounded his grave and recited prayers and paid tribute to him in English and Arabic.

Nobody has been charged over the fatal South Yarra drive-by shooting last year. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

In a video of the service ­obtained by the Herald Sun, a man who appeared to lead the service said he had had only pleasing dealings with the gangland figure, who had spoken about meeting with a community leader in the lead-up to his death.

He said he met with Keshtiar shortly before he died when the crime kingpin told him he intended to meet with his local Imam and that “Allah will fix everything”.

“That is what I witnessed and you should witness as well … his life has been ended when he had good intention,” he told the group at the service.

Police have also remained tight-lipped about Keshtiar’s death Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

The mourner said people should remember Keshtiar based on their dealing with him, and not what they had heard from others.

“When we witness someone give testimony to someone, we only give testimony for what we have seen, not for what we have heard because people talk,” he said.

“Talk is cheap. To act and do it, it is very difficult. There is (a) distinction between talking and acting.”

Prayers and well wishes included the community leader asking that Allah bless Keshtiar and his family, saying what was believed to be “peace be upon him” in Arabic.

He also asked for Keshtiar to be accepted in death because of his “good intentions” in life.

“Remove all the hardship in his travel,” he prayed as the group then held out their hands and prayed.