National

Melbourne tobacco store goes up in smoke amid gang war

By AAP Newswire

Oct 25, 2023

A fire truck in Melbourne. — Police are investigating a suspicious fire at a tobacconist in Melbourne's north. -AAP Image

A blaze has erupted at a tobacco store in Melbourne's north, in another suspected targeted gang war attack.

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A crime scene has been set up at the store in Hadfield on West Street after the Wednesday morning fire was deemed suspicious.

An arson chemist is expected to attend the scene.

Detectives from the specialised Lunar Taskforce will investigate if the fire is linked to a series of arson attacks on tobacco stores dating back to March.

More than 27 Victorian businesses have been firebombed over the past seven months as part of a gangland war over illegal profits, police say.

The conflict centres on both the physical placement of illicit tobacco in stores and demands to pay a weekly "tax" to crime syndicates in order to operate.

Police believe Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs are recruiting youths and low-level criminals to carry out the offending.

They are also investigating whether the broad-daylight shooting death of a 27-year-old man in a Craigieburn shopping centre car park on October 7 is connected to the tobacco feud.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press