Kazem Hamad given life term in Iraq drug case

Iraq's judiciary said on Tuesday that a criminal court sentenced Kazem Hamad to life in prison for drug trafficking.

The National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation said the Karkh criminal court issued the life sentence and ordered the confiscation of Hamad's movable and immovable assets under the law.

The centre said Hamad was deported from Australia to Iraq in 2023 and arrested in January this year in response to an official request from Australia.

The Australian Federal Police said the Iraqi centre had informed them that a life sentence had been handed down against a person of interest to Australian authorities. It also noted the work of its Iraqi partner.

The Iraqi centre described Hamad as one of the most wanted people by Iraqi and international judiciaries. It said he smuggled large quantities of narcotics into Iraq and Australia, and was linked to transnational organised crime gangs involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping, extortion and organised violence.

Australian police said in February that they were providing information on Hamad's activities in Australia, where he was believed to be operating in five states and one territory.