EXCLUSIVE
Just days before Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim was brutally executed, details emerged in court about how a crack police unit with just three detectives had taken down a violent Melbourne tobacco crime syndicate he was allied with.
Daily Mail Australia can now reveal how a top secret police investigation codenamed ‘Operation Galactus’ dealt a devastating blow to a major tobacco syndicate allegedly ruled by Middle Eastern identity Nazir Haddara, a court has heard.
Operation Galactus had been tasked with investigating and disrupting the illegal cigarette, tobacco and vape sale and distribution network allegedly controlled by Haddara.
The tiny investigation team arrested Haddara, 25, and other key players in the alleged syndicate including his cousin Hassan Jassem, 21, in October last year.
A court heard the Haddara syndicate bust up had allegedly dealt a $30-million plus blow to the suspected criminal gang.
Underworld sources believe Abdulrahim had sided with the Haddara syndicate in an attempt to muscle in on the tobacco rackets against rival crime kingpin Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad.
They believe that was a factor in his execution outside the Quest Apartments in Preston on January 28, and it is understood the endless tobacco shop arsons and violent extortions in Melbourne are a result of the bloody rivalry.
‘Operation Galactus’ has been working to dismantle major tobacco syndicate allegedly ruled by Middle Eastern identity Nazir Haddara (pictured)
Underworld sources believe Abdulrahim had sided with the Haddara syndicate in an attempts to muscle in on the tobacco rackets against exiled crime kingpin Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad (above)
Melbourne has been rocked by an increasingly bloody series of tobacconist firebombings. Above is the interior of a Caulfield South tobacco store after an arson attack
Middle Eastern organised crime and bikie gangs are fighting for market share and the huge profits from illegal cigarettes as the cost of legal smokes soars past $65 a pack in Australia.
Melbourne’s illegal cigarette rackets ran peacefully without incident until Hamad, a ruthless kingpin who was deported to Iraq after being jailed for trafficking heroin, entered the game.
An underworld source confirmed Hamad ‘wanted a piece of the pie’ and muscled into the lucrative and previously low-risk illicit tobacco industry which had been controlled by the Haddara clan.
The court heard that 24 people linked to the Haddara syndicate have been arrested and 23 businesses scattered throughout Melbourne and Victoria were raided.
Police tracked an alleged $2.68million in illicit sales from stores linked to Haddara between January and August last year.
Haddara, who is related to Melbourne underworld heavy-hitter Fadi Haddara, was charged with directing the activities of a criminal enterprise after he was captured at the airport attempting to flee to Dubai.
Other suspected members of the syndicate were slapped with varying charges including distribute and supply illicit cigarettes, vapes and tobacco.
Police also charged several members with directing or supporting a criminal organisation depending on their ‘different roles and levels of involvement’.
Jassem is alleged to be a ‘violent enforcer’ in the suspected criminal organisation.
Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim was executed in Melbourne on January 28
Abdulrahim was buried in a golden coffin after a short service at a mosque in Melbourne’s north
The prosecution are yet to finalise a dollar amount on the loss of revenue Haddara’s syndicate allegedly caused but the court heard it was expected to be ‘well into the millions’.
Investigators seized almost a tonne of loose tobacco, 1.6 million cigarettes and 17,000 vapes but the court was told cops have warned crooks to expect more arrests, charges and seizures.
Police also seized $30,000 cash, a Lamborghini and various mobile phones from Haddara’s home in Melbourne’s west.
The court heard the syndicate was ‘maintained principally’ by Haddara who employed staff and ran his gang with ‘violence against competitors’ while ‘developing market share’.
Prosecutors sought more time to hand over evidence to defence teams due to the extensive investigation which is compiled of 9,000 crime scene photographs and 24,000 pages of phone intercept transcripts.
Police still need to trawl through dozens of hard drives and dissect encrypted messaging apps for evidence.
Investigators also seized 1.6 million cigarettes including popular black market brands Manchester and Double Happiness
Top criminal barrister Dermot Dann KC (left) with Majid Alibadi (pictured right)
It’s understood Operation Galactus works with other police units including Victoria’s elite Viper and State Anti-Gang taskforces and operates alongside the highly publicised Lunar Taskforce.
Lunar was launched in October 2023 after Melbourne’s tobacco war spiralled out control with shootings, violent standover tactics, assaults and almost weekly arson attacks.
Lunar Taskforce detectives arrested two men allegedly linked to Hamad just four days before Abdulrahim was gunned down in the underground carpark of Quest Apartments Preston.
Ahmad Al Essawi, 23, is believed to be a soldier in Hamad’s violent and sprawling crime empire.
Al Essawi and a 31-year-old man were charged in relation to an alleged tobacco store extortion which ended in an arson attack in Victoria’s northeast in July last year.
Police alleged Al Essawi entered a Wangaratta tobacco store and ordered a staff member to close down the shop or ‘it will be burnt down’.
Abdulrahim was brutally gunned down in Preston, Melbourne, on January 28. Above, the locked down crime scene
Weeks later the store was set on fire after two men exited a BMW, forced entry into the shop, poured accelerant and set it alight.
The arson attack remains under investigation.
Al Essawi was charged with extortion with threat to destroy property while his accomplice was slapped with multiple drug charges.
Police alleged the accomplice filmed the arson attack after a directive came down from Hamad.
Hamad rules his empire from abroad with an iron fist and had allegedly delegated management roles to his brother Maytham Hamad, 29, and key player Majid Alibadi, 25.
Both Hamad junior and Alibadi were arrested and charged in relation the illicit tobacco trade.
Nazir Haddara, his cousin Hassan Jassem and 22 others allegedly linked to the syndicate will all front court at later dates.
Abdulrahim was buried in a golden coffin after a short service at a mosque in Melbourne’s north on January 30.
