By Nick McKenzie and Marta Pascual Juanola
Melbourne’s underworld tobacco wars have reached a new crescendo with the attempted assassination of underworld figure Suleiman “Sam� Abdulrahim outside his Thomastown home.
Neighbours described hearing a commotion in the early hours of Friday morning and police are now probing whether he was lured out of his home to be executed.
Former Mongols bikie and professional boxer Suleiman “Sam� Abdulrahim. Credit: Instagram
Abdulrahim, a boxer who is also known by his fighting name The Punisher, escaped serious injury and the offenders are on the run.
Victoria Police confirmed multiple shots had been fired in the direction of the 32-year-old as he left his Larch Street home about 3.15am.
“Police are working to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and investigations are ongoing,� a spokeswoman said.
The underworld is abuzz with rumours that the attempted assassination was ordered by ruthless kingpin Kazem “Kaz� Hamad, who police suspect is behind the so-called tobacco wars.
Organised crime syndicates are suspected of being behind 75 arson attacks since March last year, including the torching of 49 tobacco shops.
Hamad is suspected by authorities of calling the shots from a safe haven abroad and has moved between Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and other Middle Eastern destinations while allegedly running an illegal tobacco empire estimated to be generating hundreds of millions of dollars.
In February, this masthead reported police had warned Abdulrahim that there was a contract on his life and advised him against fighting at an upcoming boxing match.
Two separate venues due to host the fight were later firebombed, causing extensive damage to the building and prompting organisers to cancel the bout.
Four businesses connected to Abdulrahim have also been torched over the past year, including a Moonee Ponds tobacco and vape store that was torched three times.
It is not the first time an attempt has been made on Abdulrahim’s life.
The boxer was shot eight times while driving in a funeral procession outside the Fawkner cemetery in June 2022. The gunmen responsible allegedly fled overseas before they could be arrested.
Anyone with information or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
More to come.
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