Underworld figure Fadi Haddara to fight gun offences

Notorious western suburbs identity Fadi Haddara will fight firearms offences amid a police probe into arson attacks on tobacco stores.

Fadi Haddara outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in 2020. Picture: AAP

Gangland figure Fadi Haddara will fight firearm offences after he was charged as part of an investigation into arson attacks on tobacco stores.

Haddara, from Altona North, was last month charged by Taskforce Lunar investigators with possessing firearms, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, affray and handling goods believed to be stolen.

The former kickboxer briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where his lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson said the 45-year-old would fight the charges at a contested hearing.

Haddara was arrested in Altona North on December 8 by detectives from Taskforce Lunar, which was set up to target the illicit tobacco trade amid dozens of arson attacks on tobacco stores across Victoria.

Fadi and Waleed Haddara outside the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in 2020. Picture: AAP

At the time of the arrest, police said Haddara was involved in two separate firearm incidents.

The first allegedly related to the seizure of three handguns and a homemade rifle at a property next to Haddara’s former home in September.

In a separate incident, Haddara was allegedly involved in a fight with a 40-year-old tobacco shop owner who discharged a firearm in Altona North in November.

No injuries were reported.

The court on Wednesday heard Haddara was subject to strict bail conditions, including that he surrender his passport, not leave Victoria, abide by a curfew and report to police three times a week.

He also is subject to a firearm prohibition order, which prevents him from owning guns, and allows police to search him without a warrant.

A Delahey man, 41, and an Altona Meadows man, 49 were arrested alongside Haddara.

In November, Haddara’s Docklands restaurant Karizma was destroyed in a targeted firebombing.

The restaurant had also been set alight days earlier, forcing 60 people to evacuate from an apartment complex above the business.

Haddar’s Docklands restaurant Karizma went up in flames in November. Picture: Victoria Police

A smash repair business Haddara owns in Williamstown North was also suspiciously razed by fire in October, damaging buildings and several cars in the lot.

Police are probing if the incidents are linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars which are between rival organised crime gangs vying for control of the illicit tobacco trade.

Since March last year there have been more than 30 arson attacks predominantly targeting tobacco and vape stores but also gyms, restaurants and private addresses.

In 2015, Haddara was jailed after admitting selling $155,000 of methamphetamine, two handguns and a sawn-off rifle to undercover officers.

Haddara, who is on bail, refused to comment as he left court with his lawyer.

He will return to court on March 12.