The alleged ringleader of an illicit tobacco crime syndicate has made a bid for freedom after he was arrested while waiting for a plane to Dubai. Nazir Haddara, 25, was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Tuesday and charged with four offences, including directing the activities of a criminal organisation and knowingly possessing unlawful imported tobacco. Haddara and co-accused Hassan Jassem, 21, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday whenre they made applications for bail.
The syndicate's alleged second-in-charge Isse Isse, 26, also appeared but did not apply for bail. Detective Senior Constable Jessica Keenan told the court Haddara was the head of a syndicate that has been leasing out Victorian retail stores to sell and distribute illegal tobacco and vapes. Police have seized more than one million illicit tobacco sticks, 50 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco and 10,440 e-cigarettes since their investigations into the syndicate started in January, the detective said.
It's estimated the loss of revenue to the Commonwealth is more than $2.5 million. Haddara allegedly directed lower-ranked members through encrypted messaging apps like Signal and held bank accounts that received credit from the stores, the detective said.
The 25-year-old has received $4 million into his bank accounts since March 2022 despite being unemployed and not lodging a tax return in three years, Det Sen Const Keenan said. Police searched his Hoppers Crossing home after his arrest on Tuesday and seized .
