First lieutenant of tobacco wars syndicate The Commission goes to jail

Chatting in a Mercedes-Benz has led to the downfall of one of the top-ranked lieutenants of the organised crime syndicate The Commission, who has been jailed for orchestrating a series of firebombings at the height of the tobacco war in 2023.

Majid Alibadi, who was once infamously picked up from remand by a Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini sent by kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, has been convicted of staging a string of arson attacks against the interests of rival gangland boss Fadi Haddara on behalf of the Hamad in late 2023.

The case against the now 27-year-old hinged on conversations captured on a listening device and GPS surveillance of his car which captured Alibadi in a series of incriminating conversations with syndicate bosses and soldiers.

This included regular conversations with Hamad while he was in Iraq and his brother, Maytham, who was allegedly one of the top onshore bosses of The Commission based in Western Australia.

The prosecution labelled Alibadi as “upper-level middle man” in the Hamad syndicate.

“Alibadi has a positive working relationship with both Kazem Hamad and Maytham Hamad, especially Maytham, who he regularly converses on a wide range of topics, including laughing together, whilst watching videos of fires and premises associated with the Haddara family,” prosecutor Deanna Caruso told the court.

“Kazem Hamad referred to Mr Alibadi as a leader and expected him to behave as such.

“Alibadi is involved in the operational planning of tasks provided by the Hamad syndicate and in engaging the persons commissioned to complete those tasks.”

The court heard this included directing unknown offenders to torch the Haddara gang’s prized restaurant, Karizma in Docklands, on two occasions in November 2023, as well as a function centre linked to the family in Tullamarine.

Alibadi was following orders to hit Karizma for a second time to ensure it was destroyed because “Maytham doesn’t want it to be open on Christmas”.

Alibadi pleaded guilty to incitement to arson, arson and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

At the time of the fires, Hamad had been waging a war of attrition against Haddara’s gang for control of the lucrative illicit tobacco market, which included dozens of firebombings targeting their shops and legitimate businesses.

Haddara “surrendered” to Hamad in February 2024 after discovering trackers on his vehicle. He allegedly paid a $1 million fee and handed over his stake in blackmarket tobacco to be left alone.

The 48-year-old was shot last month by an unidentified gunman that police suspect is connected to The Commission following renewed competition in the illicit tobacco game.