Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Chris Vedelago, Isabel McMillan
Police are investigating whether the shooting of Fadi Haddara is linked to his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar tobacco and money laundering operation in Tasmania. The incident on August 16 left Haddara with a bullet lodged near his jawline, but he has since been released from hospital and is recovering. Two sources identified the latest victim as a 37-year-old associate of Haddara, who was shot outside a property in Heidelberg West on Wednesday afternoon. The Commission, a transnational crime gang established by Kazem "Kaz" Hamad, is suspected to be behind the attacks, which may signal a renewal of hostilities in Melbourne's tobacco wars.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Victoria Police are investigating a possible link between the shooting of Fadi Haddara, a 37-year-old associate of an organized crime gang, and his family's involvement in a large-scale tobacco operation in Tasmania. Haddara was nearly killed by a hit team on August 16 at his home in Altona North and is still recovering from his injuries. Three associates have been targeted with shootings since then, including one who was shot on Wednesday outside a property in Heidelberg West. The police suspect that the attacks are connected to an organized crime gang called The Commission, which has a history of violence and has established a nationwide illicit tobacco cartel.
Written for “Tasmanian Tobacco Bust” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.35 for article 2589 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Police are investigating if the near-fatal shooting of crime figure Fadi Haddara is linked to his crime network’s alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar tobacco and money laundering operation in Tasmania.
asserted
shooting → investigate → Tasmania
Haddara’s targeting by a hit team was the first of three shootings targeting associates, the latest on Wednesday when a 37-year-old man was shot on a property in broad daylight in Heidelberg West.
asserted
man → target → West
Haddara himself was nearly killed after being gunned down in the driveway of his family home in Altona North on August 16.
asserted
Haddara → kill → August
He was released from hospital this week, but doctors are waiting to attempt to remove one bullet still lodged near his jawline.
asserted
doctors → release → jawline
“He’s up walking around, speaking properly.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
Friends couldn’t believe it,” an associate said.
asserted
associate → believe → it
A week after the failed hit, a known Haddara associate was shot in the arm while sitting in a cafe in Altona North’s Borrack Square commonly frequented by figures linked to the clan.
asserted
associate → fail → clan
On Wednesday afternoon, Victoria Police said a victim had been left suffering from serious injuries after being shot outside a property on Malacca Street in Heidelberg West.
asserted
victim → say → West
A spokesperson said the unknown offenders fled in a car, and the incident is being treated as targeted.
asserted
incident → say → car
Two sources, who have knowledge of the incident but spoke anonymously for their safety, identified the 37-year-old as an associate of the Haddara patriarch.
Organised crime gang The Commission is the prime suspect behind the attacks, which signals a renewal of the hostilities that first ignited Melbourne’s tobacco wars.
The Commission, also known as the 313, is the transnational crime gang established by exiled gangland boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad in early 2023 that has created a nationwide illicit tobacco cartel after waging a campaign of firebombings and shootings.
asserted
that → have → firebombings
They had reached an uneasy truce with Haddara who had stepped back from active involvement in the family’s activities after he “surrendered” to Hamad in early 2024 in exchange for an end to a campaign of fire bombings targeting family businesses and a $1 million hit contract put on his head.
asserted
he → reach → head
However, there have been a number of branches of the extended Haddara family that have allegedly continued to operate in the illicit tobacco market.
uncertain
that → continue → market
Some even switched sides and were absorbed into The Commission.
asserted
Some → switch → Commission
The shootings started just days after the federal and state Joint Organised Crime Taskforce took down a money-laundering syndicate operating between Tasmania and Victoria.
asserted
Taskforce → start → Tasmania
“It is alleged they facilitated the movement of criminal proceeds in cash from Tasmania and Victoria using hire cars and a commercial passenger and freight vessel,” the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Tasmanian and Victorian police announced.
asserted
Police → allege → cars
The operation on August 12 uncovered more than $2.5 million worth of tobacco, over $1 million in cash and $34,000 in silver and gold in raids in Melbourne and near Hobart and Devonport.
asserted
operation → uncover → Hobart
A 33-year-old from Hoppers Crossing and a 22-year-old Tasmanian, arrested in Melbourne, have been charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime.
asserted
old → arrest → crime
A 37-year-old from Hoppers Crossing is expected to be charged on summons.
asserted
old → expect → summons
Following Hamad’s arrest in Iraq in January, it is alleged the operation has been taken over by a 23-year-old associate based in Iraq, Ali al-Huseini.
asserted
operation → follow → Iraq
Police suspect he is responsible for orchestrating an unprecedented spate of violence targeting Melbourne’s nightlife scene earlier this year.
asserted
he → suspect → scene
The Commission has been warning that it will tolerate no rivals in Melbourne’s illicit tobacco market, running a sustained extortion campaign against cigarette retailers.
asserted
it → warn → retailers
It has also been allegedly warning underworld competitors to acknowledge its authority, and in some cases, pay a “tax” to operate.
uncertain
It → warn → tax
