Nationwide crime syndicate The Commission ordered the kidnapping and assault of a family member of a tobacco store owner in a major new escalation of the violence used to control the tobacco market.

The man was abducted off the street in broad daylight in the regional town of Morwell on Saturday after a local shop owner, a relative, refused to turn over control of the outlet to the gang.

The Commission – founded by jailed gangland boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad – has long been running an extortion racket on black market tobacco retailers. In recent months, it has started to extort legitimate tobacco shops as a new revenue raiser.

The push has been marked by a series of firebombings in suburban and regional Victoria, but this is believed to be the first time a kidnapping targeting a civilian has been used as a weapon of intimidation in the so-called tobacco war.

Two police sources, who requested anonymity to detail confidential matters, said the kidnapping was believed to be ordered by the Iraq-based crime syndicate formerly run by Hamad that has been terrorising Melbourne for more than three years.

Hamad’s operation has come under the control of a 23-year-old associate, Ali al-Huseini, since Hamad was arrested in Iraq in January and his second in command, Ahmed Al Hamza, was detained in Qatar last year. Hamad was sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking by an Iraqi court last week.

Veteran organised crime investigators have been warning that the transnational syndicate – also known as the 313 – would remain a formidable power and source of continued acts of violence despite the takedown of the top levels of command.

“The violence in the illicit cigarette market isn’t stopping with the arrest of the mastermind,” a police source said.

In Morwell, the kidnapped man was forced into a black sedan near the intersection of Sydney Street and Princes Drive at 12:40pm on August 1. He was driven to an unknown location and then assaulted with a knife.

He was eventually abandoned by his assailants, and later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries by members of the public.

Police said the investigation was ongoing.

“Victoria Police is concerned any time a violent crime occurs in our community and has a 24/7 response to any reported kidnappings,” a spokesperson said. “We treat every kidnapping at the highest level – including the deployment of all specialist services – because we know these crimes in action can be high-risk.

“Understandably, incidents such as these create concern across the community, but it’s important to note almost all result in the victim being liberated and offenders being arrested.

“Those who use violence or intimidation to commit crimes need to understand all aspects of their criminality will be addressed and that Victoria Police will take action.”

Tobacco shops in Morwell have been targeted multiple times for extortion and violence, including a firebombing in February 2024.

Police intelligence and court records show The Commission has been able to set up monopolies in numerous regional towns to exert almost total control over the sale of cigarettes after forcing other operators to shut down, turn over their shops or burn them down.

The increasingly violent tactics deployed by the 313 have coincided with Huseini taking control of its command structure in Iraq.

Huseini is suspected by police of orchestrating Melbourne’s so-called bar wars – a ruthless extortion campaign targeting inner-Melbourne nightlife venues where kidnappings and home invasions became a terrifying feature of the violence.

The tactics deployed were significantly more violent than those previously used by the gang: ordering several kidnappings, assaults and shootings of club owners and promoters while partners and children were present.

In one instance, a Malvern father was kidnapped from his home and tortured over several hours at an Airbnb in a case of mistaken identity.

The father of one of the club promoters was also assaulted in lieu of the gang’s actual target in a separate incident earlier this year.

The escalation is deeply concerning to organised crime investigators, who say the syndicate’s willingness to target civilians is a serious departure from the past and a threat to public safety.

Kidnapping has been an extraordinarily rare offence in Victoria, with only 43 cases resulting in conviction recorded in the five years to 2024.

Most kidnapping incidents are believed to be related to family custody disputes.

The illicit tobacco market is worth more than $8.5 billion nationwide. Black market products now account for 80 per cent of nicotine consumed in the country, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A major tobacco franchise executive, granted anonymity for safety reasons, estimated that 60 per cent of their shops now sold illicit goods in a bid to stay competitive and due to pressure from the syndicate.

“The threat is horrendous, and it keeps getting worse,” they said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.