Danny Tran
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Articles by Danny Tran
Program: Tobacco cartels send black market profits offshore
Australia's illicit tobacco trade has become so lucrative, criminal overlords have built a secret pipeline which is suspected of smuggling tens of millions of dollars overseas. The ABC can now reveal details of a sophisticated money laundering operation, believed to be washing cash on an industrial level for the cartels, including banished kingpin, Kaz Hamad.
How Kazem Hamad, the 'Commission' and other tobacco cartels send black market profits offshore
Cartels are using sophisticated networks to send cash from illicit tobacco sales in Australia overseas. Jailed tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad allegedly reaps riches via a secret and untraceable pipeline also used by terrorists. Police sources tell the ABC they are frustrated by a lack of resourcing and the high taxes driving a violent black market tobacco trade.
You roll the garage door all the way up before starting the generator, but the CDC says an open door still isn't safe enough.
As of late September 2026, hurricane season on the Gulf Coast still isn't over, and I already know what plenty of Houston garages will look like the next time the lights go out: generator parked just inside, big door rolled all the way up, extension cords running into the kitchen. I used to think an open garage door counted as ventilation. Turned out it doesn't.
Melbourne boxer Khalid Baker suspected of being key player in tobacco wars
A boxer once tipped to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games, who has spent years fighting a controversial murder conviction, can be revealed as a suspected key player in Victoria's so-called tobacco wars. Court documents seen by the ABC allege that Khalid Baker, 39, has run multiple illicit tobacco stores with Nazir Haddara, a member of the notorious Haddara crime family.
Former employee accuses The Florey medical institute of 'serious misconduct'
One of Australia's most prominent medical research institutes is being accused of the "misappropriation" of donor money and government funding in a lawsuit launched by a former employee who claims his workplace rights were breached. James Tran made the allegations against The Florey during a hearing in the Federal Circuit Court this morning where he urged a judge to grant him an extension of time to pursue a claim related to workplace protections against the institute.
Australian Federal Police raid home of former CFMEU official John Perkovic
Australian Federal Police officers have raided the home of a former senior official of the militant construction union as part of their probe into corruption in Victoria's building industry. At least half a dozen officers and a sniffer dog arrived at former CFMEU official John Perkovic's Keilor home in Melbourne's northern suburbs early this morning. Police could be seen searching items in the house's backyard. Loading
Human remains found as police investigate shooting of father at Wildwood
The Homicide Squad has found human remains in the search for Melbourne father Khaled Malas, who investigators allege was shot in Melbourne's north-west last week. Police say the unidentified remains were found covered in grass in Clarkefield on Wednesday afternoon. A 56-year-old man has been charged with one count of intentionally causing serious injury, but police say they would consider alternative charges.
Family worried for Melbourne father missing after shooting
The loved ones of a Melbourne father who went missing after a shooting in the city's north-west say they hold grave fears for his welfare. Police have been conducting a large-scale search for a 37-year-old man whom the ABC understands to be Khaled Malas. Mr Malas, of Meadow Heights, has not been seen since August 19. Investigators said he was allegedly shot in the chest that evening about 7:20pm after a dispute at a home in Wildwood.
Sex crimes detectives told of drug use in Sydney Swans hotel room
Detectives investigating a sexual assault scandal engulfing the Sydney Swans have been told players paid female adult entertainers to consume drugs off their bodies. Several adult entertainers are understood to have joined players at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel after being hired in the hours after the Swans' win against Essendon on Sunday night.
Fears shooting of crime family patriarch Fadi Haddara could fuel further underworld violence
The attempted assassination of one of Melbourne's most notorious crime family patriarchs has sparked fears of an escalation in the city's gangland war. Fadi Haddara had just pulled into the driveway of his home at Altona North, in Melbourne's western suburbs, on Sunday evening when he was ambushed and shot multiple times. The 48 year old was found by a family member lying in a pool of blood next to his BMW before being taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Alleged gangland boss Fadi Haddara shot in Melbourne's inner west
Alleged gangland boss Fadi Haddara has been shot in Melbourne's inner west. Multiple police and underworld sources have told the ABC that Haddara was ambushed outside his Altona North home on Marigold Avenue on Sunday evening. Emergency services were called to the home after reports of a shooting, shortly before 8pm. Haddara was sitting in a car in the driveway when he came under fire. He was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Gangland boss Fadi Haddara shot in inner-west Melbourne
Gangland boss Fadi Haddara has been shot in Melbourne’s inner west. Multiple police and underworld sources have told the ABC Haddara was ambushed outside his Altona North home on Marigold Avenue late this evening. Loading
Hackers leak sensitive Victorian court data to dark web Original
The personal information of Victorian court users has been posted on the dark web, sparking a police investigation. Names, emails and job titles of people who attended online hearings in regional courts were posted on an underground hacking forum in July. A user has claimed responsibility in a post. The post on the dark web forum. The ABC has pixelated a sample of the data to protect the privacy of people identified.
Victoria Police settle lawsuit with Gippsland man left with brain damage after 2022 arrest
A young father who suffered permanent brain damage after a Victorian police officer fell on him during a bungled arrest has quietly settled a lawsuit with the force, in a deal believed to be worth millions. Brodie Holt last month reached a confidential settlement with Victoria Police in the Supreme Court over the incident outside a pub in his home town of Traralgon, which left him with injuries so severe that he was forced to move back home with his parents.
Lieutenants rush to fill power vacuum in Kazem Hamad's criminal empire
Nestled amongst orchards in the Goulburn Valley, the tiny Victorian town of Mooroopna has been known as Fruit Salad City since the '80s — but at the end of last year, it was having a rotten time. Being about two-and-a-half hours from Melbourne, Mooroopna managed to avoid the illicit tobacco war that had consumed the capital city since 2023, as criminal gangs fought for control of the black market.
Lieutenants rush to fill power vacuum in Kazem Hamad's criminal empire
Australia 9 hours ago Old man on a tram called a woman ‘disgusting’ for wearing a dress that exposed her legs — then one passenger's response shut him down upworthy.com - Pahul Nanra • 9h The passenger's heart was racing as she watched, hesitant to speak up at first because she feared the man might react aggressively.
Judicial watchdog directs County Court judge towards counselling after 'unfair and inappropriate' comments
A Victorian judge who admonished a barrister in front of her client and behind her back will receive counselling after the watchdog found his comments were "unfair and inappropriate". The Judicial Commission of Victoria said Judge Michael Tinney of the County Court should also undergo training after it substantiated part of a complaint against him. The complaint was made by the barrister, who the ABC understands is an experienced and senior member of the profession.
WorkSafe investigating after Melbourne footballer Nathan Fitzgerald suffers life-ending head injuries
Victoria's workplace safety watchdog is investigating after a suburban footy player was catastrophically injured when his head collided with a cricket pitch. Mr Fitzgerald died on Monday night in hospital, after receiving end-of-life care. WorkSafe has confirmed it was notified after Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was critically injured during a local match at Lalor Recreation Reserve, in the city's northern suburbs on Saturday.
How boxer Hussein Dehaini became the latest casualty of Melbourne's underworld conflict
Those who knew Hussein Dehaini say he could have been anything he wanted to be. But what the 33-year-old boxer became was the latest casualty of Melbourne's underworld conflict, gunned down in the middle of the street last Sunday before his killers sped away. Police at the scene of the Ascot Vale shooting on June 21.
Six years on from the Eastern Freeway crash, officers relive one of Victoria Police's darkest days
Even from the other side of the door, they could hear the television news report blaring: a man in custody, another on the run, four police dead. Outside, the three senior officers stopped and listened. Then Superintendent John Fitzpatrick knocked. "[They] knew why we were there," recalls Fitzpatrick, then the force's divisional commander for Road Policing Operations and Investigation.
Mother of AFL players Kay Reid says home raided by Dezi Freeman investigators
Kay Reid, the mother of AFL premiership players Ben and Sam Reid, has confirmed police searched her home as part of Taskforce Summit's investigation into the movements of police killer Dezi Freeman after he went on the run in September last year. On a podcast which Ms Reid co-hosts, she revealed that police had attended her and her husband Bruce's home to execute a search warrant. She also posted photos of police inside her home.
John Setka faces court over alleged threatening emails to CFMEU administrators
Former CFMEU boss John Setka has faced court on charges relating to alleged abusive messages sent to the union's former administrator. Lawyers for Mr Setka told the court he had been the subject of death threats, which police were investigating. Mr Setka is on bail and is due to return to court at a later date. Expletive-ridden text messages allegedly sent by former construction boss John Setka to CFMEU administrators have been made public in fresh court documents.
Year 3 NAPLAN tests stolen from FedEx van in Melbourne
The sensitive details of dozens of primary school kids are still missing after a delivery van carrying completed NAPLAN tests was stolen on the way to exam markers. The ABC can reveal that about 70 students at two primary schools in Melbourne's inner-north, Princes Hill Primary School and Carlton North Primary School, are now victims of an analogue data breach.
Program: Child abuse files found on Dezi Freeman devices
Fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman was being investigated over hundreds of files of child abuse material, when he shot and killed two police officers in Victoria's high country in August last year. Freeman, a so-called sovereign citizen, was shot dead in March after spending months on the run in the state's north east.
Hundreds of child abuse files found on devices belonging to police killer Dezi Freeman Original
By Danny Tran and Antonia O'Flaherty, ABC Police killer Dezi Freeman was on the verge of having his secret stash of child abuse material discovered when he gunned down two officers outside his makeshift home. Freeman, a so-called sovereign citizen, was living with his wife and children in a ramshackle bus in the north-east Victorian town of Porepunkah, about 330 kilometres from Melbourne, at the time of the shooting in August last year.
Dezi Freeman death brings end to mammoth seven-month police operation Original
By Danny Tran, Ashlee Aldridge, Andi Yu, Judd Boaz and Antonia O'Flaherty, ABC News The memorial, held just days ago in a white marquee on the grounds of the Victoria Police academy, was heaving with people Alain Hottart and Carolina de Waart did not know. It was for a woman they had never met.
Dezi Freeman death brings an end to mammoth seven-month police operation
The memorial, held just days ago in a white marquee on the grounds of the Victoria Police academy, was heaving with people Alain Hottart and Carolina de Waart did not know, and for a woman they had never met. Their son, Vadim, was not yet born when Angela Taylor was killed by a car packed with gelignite outside the Russell Street Police headquarters in 1984, becoming the first Australian policewoman to be killed in the line of duty.
Dezi Freeman's path from an 'unemployable' sovereign citizen to Porepunkah police shooter Original
By Ben Butler and Danny Tran, ABC The death of police killer Dezi Freeman has ended an enormous manhunt for the self-described sovereign citizen who evaded hundreds of police for seven months. The 56-year-old fled into rugged bushland after allegedly fatally shooting Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart at a property in Victoria's High Country in late August.
Australian hospitals on alert after Iranian hackers attack medical technology company Stryker
Hospitals across the nation are on alert after an Iranian cyber militia with reported links to the Islamic Republic hacked a US multinational that supplies critical equipment to Australia. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, hackers from the Handala group announced they had attacked Stryker, a Fortune 500 company known for its medical and surgical equipment.
Australian hospitals on alert after Iranian hackers attack medical technology company Stryker
8 hours ago ROME (AP) — One of the hottest tickets in the Vatican’s backyard these days is for a four-lecture series on the Antichrist being given by Silicon Valley tech billionaire Peter Thiel. The invitation-only conference in Rome, from Sunday to Wednesday, has proven so controversial that the Catholic …
Australian crime syndicates using fake tobacco packaging to flood legal market
Australian crime syndicates are using fake plain packaging — mass produced out of Chinese factories — to legitimise illicit tobacco and flood the legal market. The ABC has uncovered evidence of Chinese manufacturers spruiking the bogus packaging on mega online marketplaces like Alibaba, where it is sold for as little as $0.05 and can be fully customised to mimic legitimate products.
Victoria leads Australia in media suppression order numbers, raising public trust concerns
Victorian judges and magistrates handed down the most gag orders in the nation and at one point were averaging more than one a day, according to new research which has found public interest journalism in the state has reached a "crisis point". New analysis from Monash University reveals that in 2023, Victorian courts were responsible for almost half of all suppression orders in Australia, a figure far outstripping all the other states and territories.
Islamic State claims credit for Bondi massacre Original
By Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop and Danny Tran, ABC Islamic State has directly claimed credit for the Bondi massacre for the first time. The group's spokesman has also urged other supporters to continue attacks on Jews and Christians. Experts say the move is part of a propaganda programme by the terror group to promote "self-directed" terrorism.
Bondi attackers embraced as 'soldiers' by Islamic State
Islamic State has embraced Sajid and Naveed Akram as "soldiers" and urged other supporters to continue attacks on Jews and Christians, as they claimed responsibility for the Bondi massacre. The claim has been made by the group's spokesman, Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari, in a sermon-like speech and newsletter glorifying the incident and describing attackers as "brave lions".
Push for retailers to play role in 3D-printed gun crackdown after Bondi attack
Retailers offering 3D printers or 3D printing services would report customers suspected of building 3D-printed guns to the authorities under fresh calls for corporate Australia to play a role in thwarting access to the deadly weapons.
Victoria Police reviewing evidence collected under secret prison bugging program
Police will be trusted to decide whether their own conduct was illegal during a secret prisonbugging program, with prosecutors saying they will only reassess cases the force flags for review. The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) has revealed Victoria Police is currently reviewing the evidence it collected under the controversial program, where high-security prisons werebugged without a valid warrant for close to two decades.
Brain research centre The Florey sues executive, allegeing he stole and erased files
Australia's biggest brain research centre is suing one of its executives, alleging he stole and deleted commercially sensitive information. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health alleges in court documents that its business development manager, James Tran, broke into its laboratory and deleted documents. Dr Tran denies the allegations.
Grieving parents of 4yo boy who drowned in Officer suing Melbourne Water, Cardinia council
Ali Aminzadah drowned in a lagoon near his uncle's house in an outer suburb of Melbourne last year. His parents claim the fencing in the area was inadequate and are suing the council and Melbourne Water. Cardinia Shire Council and Melbourne Water have acknowledged the legal action but declined to comment.
Football coach Zia Younan found quietly playing in Melbourne suburbs despite FIFA ban for match-fixing
The ABC can reveal Zia Younan has played football for three suburban soccer clubs in Melbourne despite being banned from the sport for life by FIFA in 2014 for match-fixing. Younan was the head coach of the Southern Stars Football Club and was taking orders from a Singaporean syndicate, making bets on the Victorian Premier League. Football Australia says it is investigating.
Victoria will introduce adult jail sentences for children, but experts warn it won't fix youth crime
At first blush, there's little common ground between David Crisafulli, the law-and-order Liberal who stormed to power in Queensland, and a Victorian premier from the Labor Party's Socialist-Left. But with a youth crime crisis battering her government on an almost daily basis, Jacinta Allan has looked north for inspiration, even as she insists her home state is safe.
How a billion-dollar dream blew up a friendship between financial advisor Jason Sourasis and AFL star Scott Pendlebury
As deadlines go, it was always going to be tight — two weeks to scrounge together $10 million to save a football team, stave off liquidators and show friends, enemies and the Australian Taxation Office that he was good for the money. But Jason Sourasis's race against time has come at an incredibly inconvenient juncture in his life. This week, a former mate who just happens to be one of the AFL's biggest names sued him for millions that he alleges were misappropriated over more than a decade.
Sports business mogul Jason Sourasis facing multi-million dollar tax debt, court documents show
Sports business mogul Jason Sourasis has amassed a $6.7 million tax debt, according to documents lodged in Victoria's County Court. It comes a day after a separate lawsuit alleged Mr Sourasis misappropriated more than $2 million when he was Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury's financial adviser. Mr Sourasis is attempting to restart a stalled stadium development with funding from a lender, which could clear the bulk of his tax debt.
Scott Pendlebury launches legal action against former financial adviser over alleged secret withdrawals
Collingwood star Scott Pendlebury is suing the former boss of a failed A-League club, claiming he misappropriated more than $2 million when he managed the premiership player's finances. Pendlebury, 37, has launched a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Jason Sourasis, a former AFL player agent and businessman who went on to take the top job at Western United FC before the club financially collapsed.
Breaking: Top executives at Affinity Education Group resign after childcare scandals
Two top executives at one of Australia's biggest childcare chains have resigned following a string of scandals, including dozens of sex abuse charges being laid against a former employee. Affinity Education Group said chief executive Tim Hickey and chief operating officer Nishad Alani had stepped down from their roles and left the organisation, which runs 250 centres across Australia under brands including Papilio, Kids Academy and Milestones.
About 40 Victorians held permission to work with children despite bans from childcare industry
About half of the people banned by the childcare regulator for posing an unacceptable risk still held permission to work with children until recently, the Victorian government has revealed. The government told the ABC it had revoked the Working with Children Checks (WWCC) of "around 40" people who had been kicked out of the childcare industry because they posed an unacceptable risk to children.
About 40 Victorians held permission to work with children, despite being banned from childcare industry
About half of the people banned by the childcare regulator for posing an unacceptable risk still held permission to work with children until recently, the Victorian government has revealed. The government told the ABC it had revoked the Working with Children Checks (WWCC) of "around 40" people who have been kicked out of the childcare industry because they posed an unacceptable risk to children.
Infant's death in illegal Robinvale childcare centre among sector's secret failures
Kittitach Singchart and Patcharawan Sophui still do not understand why their infant daughter, Nanicha, died in child care. The 15-week-old died in January 2022 after being put to bed in an unsafe sleeping environment — her rocker — at a daycare centre being run out of a home in Robinvale, on the Victorian side of a bend in the Murray River.
Lawyer for Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell shared racist, antisemitic posts on social media
A lawyer for the leader of Neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN) shared social media posts with racist and antisemitic language. Matthew Hopkins represents NSN leader Thomas Sewell, and online posts suggest his law firm has been authorised by Sewell to accept donations made for his defence. Mr Hopkins said he is not a member of the NSN and holds no role within the organisation.
Leaked records trace path from overseas Neo-Nazi groups to Australia's emboldened far-right
It was in the middle of a scorching Californian summer, and Dallas Humber wasn't happy. She knew of an Australian who she claimed was prepared to carry out a mass casualty attack, but who didn't follow through. "It pained us all to see what happened in Australia the other day," the US woman wrote, referring to the man as a "would-be saint", in the beginning of a call to arms for her Neo-Nazi followers to unleash violence.
Police investigate 'targeted' fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tarneit man
Homicide detectives are investigating what they believe is a targeted shooting after a man died in hospital in Melbourne's west early this morning. Police were called after the 20-year-old from Tarneit arrived at the Joan Kirner Hosiptal in St Albans with gunshot wounds at about 2:45am. He died a short time later. Sources have told the ABC that investigators attended the hospital this morning. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the circumstances around the man's death were still being investigated.
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