Tobacco
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
Latest
Exclusive
Crime
Perth brother of exiled crime kingpin behind bars
Maytham Hamad, 29, appeared in court on Tuesday.
- by Michael Stamp
Exclusive
Victorian Parliament
Smoke taxes driving people towards black market – and smoking rates up
Analysis shows high cigarette prices will continue pushing people towards the illicit tobacco trade, amid surging rates of vaping.
- by Kieran Rooney and Annika Smethurst
Analysis
Naked City
Where there are smokes there are fires: Inside Victoria’s tobacco war
Property owners knowingly making money from an illicit source could find their income and the property subject to asset seizure.
- by John Silvester
Exclusive
Smoking & vaping
E-cigarette use rising in NSW despite vapers saying they want to quit
The number of people using vapes in NSW increased last year, but survey data suggests more than half are considering quitting in the next six months.
- by Mary Ward
Chalmers’ budget is suffering from tobacco withdrawal
Big tobacco excise increases have been used to boost the budget bottom line. But fewer smokers, more vapers and a burgeoning black market are killing the tax cash cow.
- by Shane Wright and Natassia Chrysanthos
Illegal tobacco industry pushing new product experts say is aimed at children
Nicotine pouches marketed with fruit and confectionery flavours such as mint, watermelon and gummy bears are being illegally imported into Australia.
- by Chris Vedelago
Updated
Crime
Tobacco scheme will need tough powers to end state’s turf wars
Victoria’s new tobacco licensing laws must have strict character tests, a dedicated task force and massive fines to avoid being a toothless tiger at stopping the state’s underground turf war, the industry has warned.
- by Kieran Rooney, Broede Carmody and Chris Vedelago
Key ‘insiders’ arrested over $15m tobacco import linked to underworld war
Six members of an alleged tobacco importation syndicate have been charged after early morning raids and the seizure of 10 million illicit cigarettes.
- by David Estcourt
Exclusive
Organised crime
Haddara crime family’s ruthless hold on Melbourne goes up in flames as the tobacco wars hit home
The Haddaras are losing out in the fight for control of the illicit tobacco trade as a challenger emerges with a loyal crew who will stop at nothing.
- by Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Exclusive
Crime
Hotties, the must-have accessory for Melbourne’s criminals
“Hotties”, a slang term used by Melbourne’s underworld to describe a stolen car, have become a crucial ingredient in serious criminal offending, whether it’s burning up a tobacco shop or turning a gun on an enemy.
- by David Estcourt and Chris Vedelago
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/tobacco-jqw