Man arrested in Wollert raid suspected of being the local lieutenant to offshore tobacco syndicate leader Kaz Hamad
Kaz Hamad’s uncle has been arrested over suspicions he’s the key local foot soldier of the exiled tobacco crime boss.
The uncle of gangland kingpin Kazem Hamad and an alleged “key foot soldier” in his syndicate has been arrested in a raid by organised crime detectives.
Majid Jabal, 57, was detained by investigators from the Lunar Taskforce after a search warrant was carried out on his home at Wollert on Monday.
A Victoria Police statement said the man arrested is believed to be a relative of Hamad and the alleged “local lieutenant for an offshore illicit tobacco syndicate boss”.
The Herald Sun had been told Mr Jabal is Hamad’s uncle.
“It’s believed that the man arrested is likely the syndicate leader’s onshore lieutenant for crimes including arsons, extortions and unexplained wealth, in both Victoria and across Australia. The investigation is ongoing,” the statement said.
Three mobile phones and cash were seized by Lunar in Monday’s operation.
It is expected Mr Jabal will be charged on summons.
Mr Jabal in 2020 pleaded guilty to a charge of smuggling 3.2 tonnes of molasses into Australia from the United Arab Emirates.
The County Court heard Mr Jabal was Iraqi-born and a former policeman.
The haul confiscated by Australian Border Force officials was worth $2.75m in tax and duties.
Molasses is commonly smoked in shisha pipes.
Mr Jabal is believed to have returned to Australia in the past year after an extended stint in the Middle-east.
Lunar was set up last year in response to a wave of arson attacks and widespread organised crime linked to the illicit tobacco trade.
The activities of Hamad and his associates have been a major priority for its detectives.
Hamad left Australia in mid-2023 after serving a prison stretch for heroin trafficking.
He has since up-ended Melbourne, aggressively attacking the smoke rackets of anyone who has got in his way.
