Organised crime
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Crime
Prosecution witness in Melbourne’s tobacco war allegedly firebombed into silence
A campaign of intimidation suspected of being waged by the crew of exiled gangland boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad is targeting witnesses and victims helping police.
- by Chris Vedelago, Marta Pascual Juanola and Erin Pearson
Latest
Real estate agents, lawyers in spotlight for money laundering crackdown
This masthead has reported on an alleged Chinese-Australian money laundering organisation that moved an estimated $10 billion while amassing a portfolio comprising Sydney mansions.
- by Paul Sakkal
Alleged ‘puppeteer’ brother of tobacco war kingpin released on bail
The brother of an alleged organised crime kingpin has been granted bail despite fears he’s a flight risk and player in a violent illicit tobacco syndicate.
- by Rebecca Peppiatt and Marta Pascual Juanola
Exclusive
Smoking & vaping
Vape crackdown in chaos with regulators unprepared, fearing organised crime
Four days into a nationwide ban on the sale of vapes, federal and state authorities are playing the blame game about who should be enforcing the rules.
- by Chris Vedelago
Victorian tobacco war kingpin’s brother a crime ‘puppeteer’, police allege
Police say Maytham Hamad – the brother of ruthless Melbourne organised-crime kingpin Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad – is ‘a high-level co-ordinator of violence’.
- by Lachlan Abbott and Rebecca Peppiatt
Exclusive
Crime
Airtasker for the underworld: Criminals order murders, drive-bys, firebombings on secret app
Organised criminal gangs are using a new app resembling the system in popular film franchise John Wick, anonymously commissioning and paying for violent crimes on an encrypted platform.
- by Chris Vedelago
In picturesque Puglia, women risk their lives to stand up to the mafia
It was a scene straight out of The Godfather. A bloody goat head with a butcher’s knife through it was left on the doorstep of Judge Francesca Mariano’s home.
- by Trisha Thomas
Jailed gangland boss who lit fires, assaulted guards complains he can’t see the sky
George Marrogi is taking legal action against the state because he can’t exercise outside or socialise while serving time for murder and running a drug empire from behind bars.
- by Marta Pascual Juanola
How Mexico’s cartels infiltrated the tortilla business
A drive-by shooting carried out by a feared drug cartel wounded a teenager in a Mexican town. They weren’t targeting rival drug dealers – it was a tortilla shop.
- by Mary Beth Sheridan, Lorena Ríos and Fred Ramos
Exclusive
Investigations
‘Much-loved son’: Rich list family stands by suspected drug kingpin
The father is the epitome of the migrant success story; the son is one of the nation’s most wanted suspected criminals.
- by Nick McKenzie and Kate McClymont
Analysis
Naked City
Why ego should be a gangster’s dirty word
Instead of hiding in the shadows, gangsters are flaunting their wealth. Changes to the law may make them trip over their extravagance, right into trouble.
- by John Silvester
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/organised-crime-609