Police have arrested a man this afternoon believed to be responsible for directing a series of suspicious fires across Melbourne last year connected to the current illicit tobacco dispute.
A 25-year-old Epping man was arrested by detectives from the Lunar and VIPER Taskforces in Bundoora just after 3pm on 30 January.
He will now be interviewed by police.
Detectives believe the 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 5 October;
• A fire at a tobacco store in Glenroy on 9 October;
• Two fires at the same Docklands restaurant on 18 and 20 November;
• A fire at a reception centre in Tullamarine on 8 December; and
• A fire at a separate Docklands restaurant on 8 December.
He will also be interviewed in relation to a threat against a tobacco store owner in Glenroy on 24 September.
Taskforce Lunar currently has 31 active arson investigations, which include tobacco stores, vehicles, gyms, restaurants and private addresses.
Since October, the VIPER Taskforce has executed almost 70 warrants at tobacco stores across the state believed to be involved in the sale of illicit tobacco, resulting in the seizure of the following:
• 108,722 e cigarettes (vapes) with a street valuation of $3.2M;
• 3,205,298 cigarettes with duty excise evaded totalling $3.9M;
• Over one of tonne loose-leaf tobacco with duty excise totalling evaded $1.9M;
• At least 2 kg of cannabis;
• At least 1kg of cocaine;
• Almost $100K proceeds of crime;
• Multiple weapons including ASP Batons and swords; and
• Industrial tobacco manufacturing equipment.
A significant investigation into the series is underway with Taskforce Lunar drawing on a range of specialised resources from the Gang Crime Squad, Arson and Explosives Squad, Echo Taskforce, VIPER Taskforce, Criminal Proceeds Squad and Financial Crime Squad.
The taskforce is also working closely with regional police, as well as a range of external agencies such as the ABF, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), AFP and ATO.
At this time, 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.
Police believe the syndicates are comprised of personnel from Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, who are then engaging local networked youth, street gangs and other low-level criminal to carry out the offending.
Investigators continue to appeal to anyone, especially store owners and staff, who has information about these incidents and who is responsible to come forward.
Anyone with information about these incidents or with further information about illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Graham Banks, Lunar Taskforce:
“Today’s arrest is a significant one for us as it directly relates to the commissioning of a number of suspicious fires across Melbourne.
“We’ve previously made it clear that it’s not just about arresting those who are being tasked to light fires, it’s crucial we make inroads into those higher up in the syndicates who are actively directing this criminality.
“By targeting those people we hope to cause as much disruption to these organised crime syndicates as possible and prevent further fires from occurring.
“Again, this is reckless behaviour that shows how little regard these people have for the lives and property of others. It puts innocent people at immense risk and it is behaviour we are doing everything we can to bring to a stop.”
