By Tara Cosoleto, AAP
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, Detective Senior Constable Keenan said.
Police searched his Hoppers Crossing home after his arrest on Tuesday and seized $40,000 in cash found concealed in nappies and a Lamborghini.
The luxury car was lent to Haddara by one of his friends, the court was told, although the owner was not named.
Detective Senior Constable Keenan claimed Haddara was an unacceptable risk if released on bail, both for the safety of the community and as a flight risk.
“Nazir has demonstrated he can get his hands on multitudes of cash,” she told the court.
“We would believe there is a significant amount of money … that would enable him the opportunity to develop a flight plan.”
But under questioning from Haddara’s barrister Ian Hill KC, the detective conceded there was no evidence he was directly involved in recent arson attacks and ram raids against tobacco stores.
Detective Senior Constable Keenan also opposed Jassem’s bail, stating he was also unacceptable risk.
Jassem, the cousin of Haddara, is alleged to have managed stores in Victoria’s western region connected to the syndicate.
He’s accused of delivering the illicit tobacco to the sites and was allegedly found with more than $10,000 in cash and 15,000 illicit tobacco sticks when he was arrested in Echuca on Tuesday.
The bail applications will continue on Thursday.
