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30 OCTOBER, 2024
Tobacco suspect bailed By Tara Cosoleto, AAP The alleged ringleader of an illicit tobacco syndicate has walked from court despite police pleading to keep him locked up after he was arrested while trying to leave the country. Nazir Haddara, 25, who lives in Hoppers Crossing, did not speak to media after being released on bail from Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 24. He was about to board a flight to Dubai on Tuesday, October 22, when he was arrested and charged with four offences, including directing the activities of a criminal organisation. Detective Senior Constable Jessica Keenan alleged Haddara was a flight risk given he was arrested at Melbourne Airport and had access to “multitudes of cash”. Haddara put a deposit for a luxury villa in Dubai earlier in October, the court was told. But the detective conceded Haddara had a return flight scheduled a week later and he had recently returned from a holiday in Thailand, while on bail for unrelated charges. Magistrate Michelle Hodgson found those factors had “neutralised” his flight risk as she bailed Haddara on Thursday. She said while the risk of Haddara endangering the community was “significant“, it could be reduced through several bail conditions, including a $150,000 surety. “I am satisfied the conditions could be put in place that would mitigate the risk to an acceptable level,” she said. Police allege Haddara is the head of a syndicate leasing Victorian retail stores to sell and distribute illegal tobacco and vapes. Officers have seized more than one million illicit tobacco sticks, 50kg of loose leaf tobacco and 10,440 e-cigarettes since their investigations into the syndicate started in January, Det Sen Const Keenan 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 such as 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 $40,000 cash concealed in nappies and a Lamborghini.
Ready to run! There is no horsing around at the Werribee International Horse Centre as the race to get the international talent ready for the Melbourne Cup is firmly underway. Several big names are quarantining ahead of the race that stops the nation, including one of the favourites Vauban who is ready to improve on last year’s performance. He will be going nose to nose with stablemate and French compatriot Absurde who is also fancied to fly down the Flemington straight with a vengeance. Not to be overshadowed, roughie Kinesiology is putting in the work to give himself a shot at glory and defy the odds. Story and pictures: Page 12
Kinesiology will be running in the Melbourne Cup. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 439750_15
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