Tobacco wars ‘ringleader’ Majid Alibadi in contact with crime kingpin Kazem Hamad, court told

A man accused of being a key player in Victoria’s tobacco wars is connected to an exiled crime kingpin, who is allegedly calling the shots from overseas, a court has heard.

Majid Alibadi is facing more than a dozen charges, including arson and extortion.

An alleged “ringleader” from one of the criminal syndicates at the centre of Victoria’s tobacco wars has been in “personal contact” with exiled crime kingpin Kazem Hamad, who is believed to be orchestrating a series of firebombings from overseas, police claim.

Majid Alibadi, 25, made a bid for bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as he faces more than a dozen charges, including arson and extortion.

The Epping man has been charged over two blazes at Karizma restaurant in Docklands on November 18 and 20, as well as fires at a Glenroy tobacco store on October 9 and Melrose Events reception centre in Tullamarine on December 8.

The businesses allegedly targeted by Mr Alibadi are either owned by or linked to a rival criminal syndicate run by the Haddara family.

Mr Albadi is allegedly a key player in Victoria's tobacco wars.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Matthew Lindsay from the Lunar Taskforce told the court he fiercely opposed Mr Alibadi being granted bail.

He cited his alleged connection to Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, who police believe has been running a major Middle Eastern organised crime gang from overseas.

“My belief is that, in corporate terms, Mr Alibadi would be best described as the regional operations manager for the Hamad syndicate within Victoria,” he said.

“He takes instructions from senior members of that syndicate … then passes on those instructions to persons who are underneath within the syndicate and provides them with means to carry out those instructions.”

The Haddara syndicate is one of the largest operators in Victoria’s illicit tobacco market, according to a police intelligence report, with the Hamad syndicate threatening its longstanding control of the sector.

Police believe Kazem Hamad has been running a major Middle Eastern organised crime gang from overseas.

Constable Lindsay told the court Mr Alibadi was not “physically present” when the four fires were allegedly lit, however he accused him of “arranging” the arson attacks, including by filling up jerry cans.

“I know that (Mr Alibadi) has been in personal contact with Kaz Hamad,” he said.

“I know that he is in regular personal contact with (Mr Hamad’s brother).

“I know that they regard (Mr Alibadi) as a leader within the syndicate.”

Constable Lindsay told the court that police believe several members of the Haddara family are at risk of “being killed” by members of the Hamad syndicate.

He referenced an alleged phone call between Mr Hamad and a member of the Haddara family in early February in which Mr Hamad, speaking Arabic, threatened to kill the man if he did not withdraw his statement to police relating to alleged arson attacks against his businesses.

Kazem Hamad (left) at the footy with Toby Mitchell and senior Mongol bikie Tyrone Bell prior to being deported. Picture: Instagram

However, this was not the first time police allege Mr Hamad threatened the man.

Constable Lindsay said Mr Alibadi was captured on CCTV footage at the Glenroy tobacco store in September last year handing a phone to the same man and uttering: “Listen to my friend.”

It is alleged Mr Alibadi assisted Mr Hamad on that occasion who demanded over the phone, from thousands of kilometres away, that the man pay $2000 per month or his store would be damaged.

“We believe it would be impossible for an offshore offender to conduct his criminal activity within Australia without onshore facilitators,” Constable Lindsay said.

“We believe Mr Alibadi is one of those facilitators, therefore he provides the means of delivery of threats.”

Constable Lindsay concluded that if the accused was granted bail, there were substantial risks given he was an “important member” of the syndicate.

“We would be providing them with a valued lieutenant of the Hamad syndicate back out to carry out (Mr Hamad’s) will,” he said.

The Glenroy tobacco store was targeted on October 9. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The court also heard that despite being unemployed Mr Alibadi had been living a “lavish lifestyle”, which Constable Lindsay alleged was funded by the proceeds of crime.

Mr Alibadi was arrested in Bundoora on January 31 by detectives from the Lunar Taskforce, which was set up to investigate the wave of firebombings across the state.

He was seated in the dock, wearing a black Nike T-shirt, during the bail application on Wednesday.

But Magistrate Michael Smith adjourned the hearing after it was determined the parties needed more time to argue their cases.

The court heard Mr Alibadi’s defence barrister Dermot Dann, KC, intends to argue his client should be released on bail in order for him to receive treatment at a rehabilitation facility and due to the likely delay in his case.

His co-accused Frederico Bruno, 48, from Thomastown, who has been charged with firearms offences, was denied bail on Tuesday. 

Mr Alibadi will return to court on Monday where he will learn whether his bid for freedom has been successful.