Key Takeaways
- An Iraq‑based organised crime gang, linked to Melbourne’s tobacco wars, is suspected of a three‑month campaign of firebombings, shootings and kidnappings targeting the city’s hospitality venues.
- The gang operates under the name “the Cartel” and uses an encrypted messaging platform originally devised by Kaz Hamad and his syndicate, the 313s, to order violent “jobs” for as little as a few hundred dollars.
- A 23‑year‑old Australian national living in Baghdad – already wanted for the attempted murder of underworld figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim – is a key member of the network and has been subject to an Interpol blue notice since fleeing to Iraq in 2022.
- Kaz Hamad, the former leader of the 313s, was arrested in Iraq in January after intelligence from the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police; his current status is unknown, but his encrypted network remains active.
- Operation Eclipse, a joint Victoria Police task force, is investigating the attacks; while no explicit extortion demands have been received, investigators suspect a “tax”‑style payment similar to illicit tobacco rackets.
- Over 30 violent incidents – including firebombings, shootings, home invasions and kidnappings – have struck venues across South Melbourne, Southbank, the CBD and Chapel Street, causing owners to fortify premises and many industry workers to go into hiding.
- Police have warned that the Iraq‑based origin of the suspects complicates any effort to dismantle the group, and they continue to urge the public to come forward with information.
Overview of the Criminal Network
The violence plaguing Melbourne’s nightlife stems from an organised crime syndicate rooted in Iraq but with strong Australian ties. Central to the group is a 23‑year‑old Australian national who has been living in Baghdad since mid‑2022. He is already wanted in Australia for the attempted murder of Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim, a prominent underworld figure who was shot outside a funeral in Fawkner in June 2022 and later killed in 2025. Police sources say the man fled to Iraq the day after that failed hit and has remained there, becoming a close associate of Kaz Hamad after Hamad’s release from jail and deportation to Iraq in July 2023.
Encrypted Threats and the Cartel’s Message
Last week the gang sent an encrypted warning to multiple venue owners, signed “the Cartel”. The message read: “We will take it by force if you don’t comply – the police can’t help you – it’s inevitable; we won’t stop till we get what we want.” It warned that the campaign aimed to seize not only businesses but also owners’ families and “souls”. The note was transmitted from a US telephone number, yet investigators confirmed its origin was Iraq. The threatening tone underscores the gang’s intent to instil fear and coerce compliance without presenting clear, negotiable demands.
Operation Eclipse and Investigative Challenges
In response to the escalating attacks, Victoria Police launched Operation Eclipse last month. The task force is tasked with targeting serious and organised crime syndicates linked to hospitality offences and determining the motive behind the spate of violence. Commander Chris Murray has publicly dismissed theories that discounted or illicit alcohol supply drives the attacks, calling the idea “information, not evidence”. Instead, he suggests an extortion model akin to the “tax” imposed on illicit tobacco sellers may be emerging, though no specific payment demands have yet been delivered to victims. The Iraq‑based nature of the suspects adds layers of complexity, hampering swift arrests and requiring coordination with foreign authorities.
Kaz Hamad’s Role and the 313s Platform
Kaz Hamad, once the head of the Melbourne‑based 313s syndicate, remains a pivotal figure despite his incarceration in Iraq. In January, Hamad was arrested following intelligence supplied by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police; he has since vanished into an Iraqi prison, and his current condition is unknown. However, investigators believe the gang is still leveraging the encrypted communications network Hamad pioneered in 2024. That platform – often likened to an “AirTasker for crime” – allows high‑ranking figures to anonymously post contracts for shootings, firebombings, home invasions, car thefts and other illicit tasks. Street‑crew leaders accept these jobs and assign teenage gang members to carry them out, sometimes for payments as low as a few hundred dollars.
Profile of the 23‑Year‑Old Associate
The young Australian associate, whose identity remains protected by ongoing investigations, has been the subject of an Interpol blue notice since his departure to Iraq in mid‑2022. Police allege he was contracted by Hamad and Hamad’s cousin Ahmed Al Hamza to execute the 2022 hit on Abdulrahim. After the failed attempt, he stayed in Iraq, deepening his ties to Hamad’s network following the boss’s release and deportation in July 2023. His familiarity with both Australian underworld dynamics and the encrypted 313s system makes him a valuable operative for the Cartel’s overseas‑directed violence.
Impact on Melbourne’s Hospitality Sector
Since the campaign began, more than 30 firebombings, shootings, home invasions and kidnappings have been linked to the group, focusing on venues in South Melbourne, Southbank, the CBD and Chapel Street. Notable targets include The Emerson, The Osborne, the famed bistro France‑Soir, Bar Bambi, Left Bank, Platform 1, The Albion, Men’s Gallery, Kittens and the South Melbourne brothel Gotham City. Several establishments have been hit multiple times; for instance, Bar Bambi, The Emerson, Kittens, Men’s Gallery and Left Bank each endured repeated attacks. The violence has forced owners to bolster security – a 12‑metre truck now sits permanently outside The Emerson’s entrance – and prompted many industry workers to seek refuge in Airbnb rentals or safe houses.
Specific Incidents and Venue Targets
A striking example occurred on Saturday when Albion co‑owner Dominic Porter endured a home invasion at his Pakenham residence; he was shot at while his partner and children were present. Earlier that week, Prahran saw two attempted attacks: police intercepted five teenagers carrying jerry cans in a stolen Mazda with false plates, and shortly after, a white Mercedes was ram‑raided into Electric Bar, a venue under the same ownership as The Emerson. The Albion has also been linked to a series of incidents targeting promoters of the Alumbra event, which runs Saturday nights at the venue. Over five days in April, six attacks – including two attempted kidnappings and several aggravated home invasions – were believed to aim at those promoters, leading to the mistaken kidnapping and assault of a Malvern man who was not the intended target.
Law Enforcement Response and Community Fear
Despite the sheer volume of attacks, Victoria Police has stated that neither they nor cooperating venue owners have received explicit demands, contributing to widespread fear and confusion. A police spokeswoman reiterated that Operation Eclipse remains open to multiple motivational theories and urged anyone with information to come forward. The involvement of Iraq‑based actors complicates any swift resolution, as extradition, intelligence sharing and cross‑border operations are required. Meanwhile, the hospitality community continues to adapt, installing reinforced doors, hiring private security, and, in some cases, temporarily closing doors until the threat subsides.
Conclusion and Outlook
The current wave of violence against Melbourne’s hospitality industry appears to be the work of an Iraq‑linked organised crime gang that exploits an encrypted ordering system originally created by Kaz Hamad’s 313s syndicate. While the precise motive remains elusive, evidence points toward an extortion‑style “tax” model rather than a simple dispute over illicit alcohol. With over 30 violent incidents already recorded, the toll on business owners, employees and patrons is significant. Operation Eclipse’s ongoing investigations, coupled with international cooperation, will be critical to dismantling the network, apprehending its key figures – including the 23‑year‑old associate and any remaining Hamad loyalists – and restoring safety to Melbourne’s nightlife precincts. Until then, owners and workers remain on heightened alert, bracing for the next possible strike.