The genesis of a bitter and violent feud between two prominent underworld figures, Youssef “Sirus” Abdulrahim and a powerful duo comprised of Comanchero bikie boss Hasan “Sam” Al Hamza and drug kingpin Fadi Hamad, remains shrouded in mystery. Speculation points to a dispute over a car or perhaps Abdulrahim’s youthful audacity in challenging established power dynamics. What is certain is that the conflict ignited in 2015, escalating into a tit-for-tat exchange of violence. Abdulrahim was suspected by Hamad’s crew of orchestrating a drive-by shooting targeting Al Hamza’s family home, prompting a retaliatory attack on Abdulrahim’s auto repair shop. This back-and-forth marked the beginning of a protracted and bloody conflict that would span years and continents.
The feud reached a critical juncture in September 2016 when aspiring drug trafficker Kadir “KD” Ors, a close associate of Hamad, was ambushed and murdered by notorious gangland figure George Marrogi. Rumors quickly spread implicating Abdulrahim in orchestrating the fatal encounter, allegedly luring Ors to a shopping center car park where Marrogi lay in wait. Although never formally charged, Abdulrahim’s alleged involvement in Ors’s death, coupled with his subsequent relationship with Ors’s widow, cemented his status as a sworn enemy of Hamad and Al Hamza. The Court of Appeal later acknowledged the prevailing belief in Abdulrahim’s complicity in the set-up, further solidifying the animosity between the factions.
The assassination of Ors unleashed a torrent of retaliatory attacks against Abdulrahim and his associates. While not solely attributed to Hamad and Al Hamza, the pair were linked by law enforcement and underworld sources to a significant number of the 18 separate incidents targeting Abdulrahim between 2017 and 2024. This campaign of violence included shootings, firebombings, and other forms of intimidation aimed at dismantling Abdulrahim’s network and driving him into hiding. A pivotal moment arrived in June 2022, when Abdulrahim was shot eight times during a funeral procession, a brazen attack underscoring the escalating intensity of the conflict.
Following Hamad’s release from prison and subsequent deportation to Iraq in mid-2023, the conflict entered a new and even more dangerous phase. Now operating a substantial criminal enterprise from overseas, Hamad allegedly placed a $1 million bounty on Abdulrahim’s head, mobilizing teams of arsonists and gunmen to make his life a living hell. The attacks escalated beyond Abdulrahim himself, targeting his home, businesses, and even venues associated with him, such as boxing gyms and bars scheduled to host his events. The relentless pressure forced Abdulrahim to adopt a life on the run, constantly moving between family properties, rentals in Melbourne, and even overseas locations like Bali and Thailand.
The relentless pursuit extended beyond Abdulrahim to encompass his network of associates. Businesses linked to those who had aided him were targeted, associates were shot, and even relatives were kidnapped for ransom. This scorched-earth tactic demonstrated the lengths to which Hamad and Al Hamza were willing to go to exact revenge and cripple Abdulrahim’s support system. The constant threat and the financial strain of living in hiding eventually forced Abdulrahim to make a perilous decision: return to Melbourne despite the imminent danger.
Despite the inherent risks, Abdulrahim returned to Melbourne, believing his movements were too unpredictable to be tracked. However, just like Ors, the man he was suspected of betraying years earlier, Abdulrahim’s fleeting sense of security proved to be an illusion. His return to the city was brief, lasting less than a day before his location was compromised. The relentless pursuit finally caught up with him. The details of what transpired remain unclear, but the cycle of violence that began almost a decade earlier continued to spin, trapping both sides in a deadly game of cat and mouse with no apparent end in sight.
