Chris Vedelago
Chris Vedelago is a senior reporter at The Age.
- Investigation
- Organised crime
‘We handed over billions to organised crime’: How official neglect and incompetence fuelled the tobacco war
Despite repeated warnings that rising tobacco taxes would hand a fortune to organised crime, governments watched a multibillion-dollar black market explode.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Latest
‘They’re getting sent a message’: Tobacco war reignites as Kaz Hamad’s ‘Commission’ fights to retain control
There have been more than a dozen arson attacks and two shootings related to illicit tobacco markets since Hamad was arrested in Iraq in mid-January.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Victoria Police backs down on using GPs to approve police recruits
The move follows intense opposition from the peak doctors’ group and concerns the policy was a risk to public safety.
- Chris Vedelago
The inside story of how Australia became one of the most lucrative illicit tobacco markets in the world
An unprecedented look into how and why Australia has been plagued by a war for control of the multibillion-dollar tobacco trade, from Dubai to the streets of our largest cities.
- Chris Vedelago, Marta Pascual Juanola and The Visual Stories Team
- Updated
- Crime
Underworld figure Waleed Haddara bailed over drug, weapon charges
Haddara was arrested by police this week after allegedly dumping a bag containing drugs, a weapon and his ID documents near a gym.
- Marta Pascual Juanola and Chris Vedelago
Police accused of putting public safety at risk with recruiting shift
The Victorian head of Australia’s peak doctors group will meet with senior police on Wednesday after voicing serious concerns about the force’s move to push recruit mental fitness sign-offs to GPs.
- Chris Vedelago
The billion-dollar move crime boss made for Australia’s top illicit cigarette brand
Kazem Hamad’s crime empire secured a major stake in Manchester tobacco company, and with it power over the illicit market from production to street-level sale.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
AFP releases images of tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad in Iraqi custody
The images were provided to the Australian Federal Police by Iraqi authorities and follows the announcement last month of Hamad’s arrest in Baghdad.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
‘Wind whistling through hole in his neck’: Alleged Hamad foot soldiers launch bid for bail
It began on a flight to Bali in December when a group of young men from Melbourne met a woman who invited them to a party on the popular holiday island.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
- Exclusive
- Organised crime
No peace, even in death: Grave of underworld figure attacked days after anniversary
The nearly six-foot tombstone of Sam “the Punisher” Abdulrahim was destroyed in an attack overnight.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola