Two men have been charged after four guns and a significant amount of illicit tobacco has been seized by police.
The charges are linked to a series of suspicious fires in Melbourne last year connected to the current illicit tobacco dispute.
A 25-year-old Epping man, 40-year-old Campbellfield man and a 48-year-old Thomastown man were arrested on January 31.
The Campbellfield man was released pending further inquiries, with the other men set to appear in court on Wednesday,
The Epping man has been charged with four counts of arson and extortion while the Thomastown man has been charged with possession or use of an unregistered long arm, non prohibited possession of a handgun without a licence, possession of a trafficable quantity of firearms and handling stolen goods.
Detectives believe the Epping man was responsible for commissioning a number of arson attacks on businesses last year, including a fire at a smash repair business in Williamstown North on October 5, a fire at a tobacco store in Glenroy on October 9, two fires at the same Docklands restaurant on November 18 and 20, a fire at a reception centre in Tullamarine on December 8, and a fire at a separate Docklands restaurant on December 8.
Police seized 615 kilograms of loose tobacco valued at approximately $800,000, almost 725,000 cigarettes with an excise value of $750,000, and 1068 vapes valued at approximately $30,000 from a Campbellfield address.
Police seized four firearms including two rifles, a handgun and an imitation longarm, as well as a range of ammunition from a Thomastown
Taskforce Lunar investigators believe the current situation is as a result of criminal syndicates in conflict due to competition for profit derived from the illicit tobacco market.
The current conflict includes both the physical placement of illicit tobacco into stores, as well as demands for stores to sell the syndicate’s illicit product and to pay a ‘tax’ per week to operate.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
