Fadi Haddara shot in Melbourne suburb

Fadi Haddara, an alleged underworld figure linked to Melbourne’s illicit tobacco trade, is fighting for his life after being shot in an apparent ambush. The 48-year-old was targeted while parked in his car in a driveway on Marigold Avenue in Altona North on a Sunday evening.

Haddara was transported to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police and the Major Crime Scene Unit have been investigating the scene in Melbourne’s inner-west suburbs.

The shooting follows a period of intense conflict over the illegal tobacco market. Haddara is alleged to be the head of the Haddara crime family, which was reportedly sidelined in early 2024 after a campaign of violence by a syndicate led by Kazem “Kaz” Hamad. Hamad, who was recently jailed for life in Iraq following his deportation from Australia, is linked to a series of firebombings and shootings used to establish control over the illicit tobacco importation and distribution sectors.