Arrest of Australia’s illicit tobacco kingpin in Iraq: a shift, not a fix
Iraq arrested Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad, the alleged mastermind behind Australia’s illicit tobacco trade, described by an Iraqi court as among the world’s most wanted. While the move is a win for Australian law enforcement, experts warn it’s unlikely to end the trade, which persists due to strong nicotine demand and high legal tobacco costs. In the short term, rival groups may clash as leadership changes, and history suggests the market could reconfigure under new leadership rather than disappear.