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.
A bullet casing on the ground at the Thomastown shooting scene.Credit: Jason South
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.
Source Agencies
