Underworld Violence Hits Regional Towns

For decades, the quiet Goulburn Valley township of Mooroopna was best known for its sprawling fruit orchards. However, the shadow of Victoria’s brutal illicit tobacco war has extended far beyond Melbourne, dragging peaceful regional communities directly into the crossfire.

Multiple local tobacconists along MacIsaac Road and McLennan Street have been targeted in repeated ram-raids and firebombings over recent months. What began as a turf war concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne has now spiraled into a statewide crisis, leaving small business owners and residents reeling from persistent underworld violence.

The Fall of a Kingpin

The escalation comes despite a monumental international law enforcement breakthrough. Kazem "Kaz" Hamad, the notorious head of the "313 syndicate"—also known as "The Commission"—was recently handed a life sentence by an Iraqi court. Hamad, who was previously deported from Australia following a heroin conviction, was captured in the Middle East following coordinated efforts by Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Authorities had hoped that removing Hamad from the equation would quell the rampant arson, extortions, and shootings plaguing Victoria. His syndicate was even implicated by national security officials in the targeted arson attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue under foreign direction. Yet, instead of restoring order, Hamad’s imprisonment has ignited a volatile power struggle within the criminal network.

A Fractured Empire Fights for Control

With the cartel kingpin behind bars, key lieutenants and family members have moved aggressively to fill the leadership vacuum. Federal investigators reveal that Hamad’s younger brother, Maytham Hamad—currently awaiting trial in Western Australia on organized crime charges—and cousin Ahmed Al Hamza have worked to maintain the syndicate’s grip on the lucrative illegal market.

Other senior associates have also faced heavy law enforcement scrutiny. Majib Alibadi, identified in court proceedings as the administrator of an encrypted communications group labeled the "Crime Family Group," was apprehended after flaunting immense wealth despite claiming no formal employment. Meanwhile, figures operating overseas continue to issue direct orders to operatives on Victorian streets.

Rookie Operatives and Expanding Threats

As senior leaders face prosecution, the syndicate has increasingly relied on younger recruits to carry out high-risk violence. Recent raids conducted under Operation Eclipse led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Essendon resident, Jesse Hadchiti, who allegedly coordinated arson attacks and extortions using encrypted messaging applications under the alias "CommBank."

In a separate operation, detectives arrested a 19-year-old from Fraser Rise, seizing illicit substances including ice, cocaine, and ecstasy, alongside a luxury Porsche SUV and firearms charges. Beyond tobacco, the expanding criminal enterprise has aggressively branched out into bars, nightclubs, and restaurant extortions.

While authorities remain determined to dismantle the sprawling network, the sheer scale of the syndicate presents an ongoing challenge. With hundreds of foot soldiers vying for position, Victoria's law enforcement agencies face a persistent battle to restore safety to both urban and regional streets.