A violent conflict over control of Victoria’s illicit tobacco market has resulted in at least six fatalities and nearly 200 firebomb attacks on tobacconist shops across the state. Authorities are investigating a small group of individuals believed to be central to the ongoing turmoil within the illegal trade.

Kazem Hamad, once regarded as a leading figure in Melbourne’s black market tobacco scene, was sentenced to life imprisonment in Iraq earlier this year. Despite his incarceration abroad, Hamad remains a person of interest in several firebombing incidents targeting tobacconists in Victoria, with some attacks reportedly coordinated from Iraq.

Another key figure linked to the black market tobacco industry, alleged gang boss Fadi Haddara, was critically injured in a shooting in the Melbourne suburb of Altona North in July. Haddara sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his face, chest, and stomach. Law enforcement sources view the assault as a significant escalation in the city's underworld conflict related to tobacco distribution.

Professional boxer Sam Abdulrahim, known in the ring as “The Punisher,” was also involved in the underground tobacco trade until he was fatally shot in an underground carpark in Preston, Melbourne, in January 2025. Reports indicate Abdulrahim faced numerous threats on his life due to his role in the illicit market.

The violent episodes highlight the entrenched and dangerous nature of the illegal tobacco industry in Victoria, which continues to generate high profits despite efforts to curb its expansion. Authorities remain focused on dismantling the networks responsible for the widespread violence and illegal sales, which have destabilized communities and placed public safety at risk.