The ex-partner of a crime boss was stopped at the border. Her luggage was a luxury treasure trove

The ex-partner of tobacco war kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad has been arrested after she was intercepted at the airport allegedly carrying luxury watches and cash to the crime boss overseas.

Safa Abouhasna was stopped by Australian Border Force officers while boarding an international flight in March, clutching a gold Rolex. It was one of two high-end watches worth $130,000 found in her luggage, along with $10,000 worth of designer men’s clothing and $US5000 cash.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted Hamad’s estranged wife with cash and high-end Rolex watches as she was boarding an international flight out of Australia.Credit: Australian Border Force

The ABF tip-off came as Victoria Police probed the flow of underworld profits back to Hamad. Abouhasna has not been charged.

From exile in Iraq where he was deported in 2023, Hamad has waged a two-year campaign of firebombings and shootings across Melbourne to take control of Australia’s multibillion dollar tobacco black market – including the suspected murders of underworld rivals such as boxer Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.

Recently, Hamad has united remaining players into a new cartel under his control, and raised his extortion “tax” on hundreds of tobacco shops selling his illicit cigarettes to $5000 a month, with plans to expand into the lucrative vape market. But specialist police taskforce Lunar has been nipping at the heels of his network in Melbourne.

Victoria Police said Abouhasna, 31, and her brother, 33, were arrested on Wednesday “in connection to an offshore illicit tobacco syndicate leader involved in serious and organised crime”.

Abouhasna’s brother has not been charged, and they are not accused of being involved in the tobacco business or the firebombings that have followed.

“Police are continuing to investigate whether these items [seized] were purchased through illicit wealth,” police said.

Taskforce Lunar detectives raided an Altona Meadows property connected to the pair, and discovered a further $13,000 in cash as well as six mobile phones.

Victoria Police was also alerted to ABF’s discovery of first-class and business-class plane tickets worth $40,000 that were bought with cash.

The Altona Meadows pair were released as investigations continue.

Underworld kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad (inset) has taken control of the black market in tobbaco after a wave of firebombings and shootings.Credit: Matt Davidson

Wednesday’s Victoria Police operation follows a string of arrests on Hamad crew members and money couriers in March.

The tobacco war has been linked to more than 133 firebombings across Melbourne as well as the fatal Truganina arson attack earlier this year which claimed the life of burlesque artist Katie Tangey in a devastating case of mistaken identity.

Firebombings, burglaries and even shootings have increasingly been outsourced to low-level criminals outside the major gangs, experts say, raising the risk of more innocent people being caught in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, gangland bosses, who often control Australian crime from relative safety overseas, are increasingly turning to luxury goods, like watches, to move money.

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