Victoria Police allege they have arrested a high-ranking member of an organised crime syndicate believed to be behind a years-long campaign of arson attacks on Melbourne’s hospitality and tobacco retail sectors — a development detectives say represents the most significant breakthrough in the investigation to date.
The arrest, announced by Victoria Police in a statement this week, follows what the force describes as an escalating pattern of violence that began with attacks on independent tobacco stores and has more recently spread to licensed venues across metropolitan Melbourne.
What police are alleging #
Victoria Police alleged in a statement that the man arrested is a senior figure within a syndicate that investigators have been monitoring for approximately three years. Police allege the man is accused of orchestrating arson attacks on behalf of the broader organisation, which detectives claim has links to a crime figure based overseas in the Middle East.
Police allege the syndicate in question has been operating under the name “The Commission” and is said by investigators to be connected to a man identified in police documents as Kazem “Kaz” Hamad. Victoria Police said in a statement that Mr Hamad is understood to remain overseas and is not in Australian custody at this time. VCN does not suggest Mr Hamad has been charged with any offence in Victoria, and his precise legal status in relation to these allegations was not confirmed in detail by police.
The man arrested this week is yet to enter a plea. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
How the violence escalated #
Victoria Police allege that in the early stages of the campaign — roughly three years ago — the syndicate’s alleged activities were concentrated on the state’s illicit tobacco trade. Officers were called to a series of fires at tobacco retail premises during that period, and detectives have previously described those incidents as targeted acts of intimidation rather than opportunistic crime.
Police allege the violence shifted character more recently, with licensed venues — including bars and restaurants — also becoming targets. Sources close to the investigation have told VCN that police believe the expansion into licensed premises reflects a broader effort by the alleged syndicate to extract payments from business owners or to punish those who refused to comply with demands. VCN has not been able to independently verify those claims, and Victoria Police did not formally confirm that characterisation in this week’s statement.
It is understood that multiple premises across Melbourne’s inner north and western suburbs have been affected, though police have not publicly confirmed a full list of sites linked to the alleged campaign.
The Melbourne tobacco black market — some context #
To understand why investigators regard this arrest as significant, it helps to understand the environment that has given rise to it. Victoria has become a focal point of Australia’s illicit tobacco trade, a black market that has grown substantially since the federal government introduced the Tobacco Excise Act changes that pushed the cost of legal cigarettes among the highest in the world.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police, have repeatedly warned that the profit margins in illegal tobacco have attracted organised crime groups with serious firepower — both financial and literal. In Victoria, that has translated into a documented pattern of arson, standover tactics, and, in some cases, physical violence directed at business operators.
The alleged targeting of licensed venues represents what police describe as a broadening of the syndicate’s alleged revenue model — moving beyond tobacco distribution into what investigators characterise as a more generalised extortion of the hospitality sector.
What happens next legally #
The arrested man is expected to appear before a Victorian court in coming days, Victoria Police said. The matter is before the courts, and VCN will report further as proceedings develop.
Detectives from the Echo Taskforce — Victoria Police’s specialist serious and organised crime unit — are leading the investigation, police confirmed. Officers from the Australian Federal Police are also understood to be involved in aspects of the broader inquiry, given the alleged overseas connections, though the AFP has not publicly commented on the matter as at time of publication.
Victoria Police is investigating whether any additional arrests are anticipated. The force said in a statement that the investigation remains active and ongoing, and detectives continue to work to identify other alleged participants.
Business owners urged to come forward #
Victoria Police used the announcement of the arrest to renew a call for hospitality and tobacco retail business owners who believe they have been approached, threatened, or targeted to make contact with investigators. The force said it recognised that some business owners may fear reprisals and encouraged them to approach police confidentially.
VCN understands that a number of operators in Melbourne’s hospitality industry have been reluctant to engage with police, citing concerns about the safety of their families and staff. Industry bodies contacted by VCN declined to comment on the record, though one representative said privately that the arrest would be viewed with cautious relief by many in the sector.
Crime Stoppers Victoria can be contacted anonymously on 1800 333 000 for anyone with information about organised crime activity.
Political and community pressure had been mounting #
The arrests come after sustained pressure on Victoria Police from state parliament and community groups who alleged the force had been slow to respond to the escalation of violence in the hospitality sector. Several government MPs raised the issue in parliamentary questions during 2024, and the opposition had called for a dedicated task force to be established — something that the Echo Taskforce’s existing remit now appears to cover.
The Attorney-General’s office did not respond to VCN’s request for comment by deadline. The Minister for Police similarly had not responded at time of publication.
It is understood that the state government has been briefed on the investigation at a senior level, though no formal ministerial statement had been issued by the time this article was published.
What VCN will be watching #
Key questions that remain unanswered include: whether Australian authorities are pursuing extradition or other international legal mechanisms in relation to any overseas-based figures named in the investigation; how many separate incidents detectives are linking to the alleged syndicate; and whether charges beyond arson-related offences are anticipated.
VCN will continue to monitor court proceedings and will report on each scheduled hearing as the matter progresses through the Victorian court system. Any suppression orders made by the court will be observed and reported as applicable.
The matter is currently before the courts. All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you have information about this matter, contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersvic.com.au. If you or someone you know is affected by threats or intimidation, contact Victoria Police on 000 in an emergency or 131 444 for non-urgent matters. Support services available 24/7 include: Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636; 13YARN (First Nations crisis support) 13 92 76; 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732; Safe Steps family violence response 1800 015 188.
