Oakleigh, Vic: Police suspect illegal tobacco trade behind shop fire

A fire that has damaged a tobacco shop is believed to be linked to a spate of arson attacks targeting tobacconists in one Australian city.

Authorities suspect members of the illegal tobacco trade are behind a fire that has badly damaged a storefront, and impacted a tobacco shop, in Melbourne’s southeast.

The blaze broke out along Station St, Oakleigh, about 3.25am on Wednesday in a vacant accounting firm, the flames spreading to a neighbouring tobacconist, who had only moved into the storefront four weeks ago.

No one was inside the shops at the time.

The suspicious fire broke out in a vacant shopfront before spreading to a neighbouring tobacco shop. Picture: Sunrise

Australian Federal Police forensic officers and members of Victoria Police’s arson squad attended the scene on Wednesday morning.

Police believe the attack may be linked to a similar spate of recent arson incidents at tobacconists across Melbourne in Hoppers Crossing, Springvale and Moonee Ponds.

The owner of another nearby tobacconist, who asked not to be named, has told The Herald Sun newspaper that she fears for her own shop.

“I feel very unsafe, I am worried about fire and people coming in here,” she said. “It’s very scary.”

A Victoria Police spokesperson said in a statement the arson incidents were “believed to be linked to the illicit tobacco trade in Victoria”.

“Over the past few weeks, police have visited over 75 tobacco stores across Victoria in conjunction with the (Australian Border Force) to speak to store owners and staff and we will also be conducting reassurance patrols in the areas around affected stores,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make an anonymous report online.

Originally published as Oakleigh, Vic: Police suspect illegal tobacco trade behind shop fire