Lara tobacco store targeted again in ram-raid, firebomb attack

Detectives are probing whether a ram-raid and a molotov cocktail attack on a Geelong tobacco store is linked to Victoria’s escalating tobacco turf war.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks from Taskforce Lunar. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Detectives are probing whether a ram-raid and a molotov cocktail attack on a Geelong tobacco store is linked to Victoria’s escalating tobacco turf war.

Police were called to The Centreway in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a car smashed into a Lara shop window.

Witnesses reported seeing multiple vehicles “cruising past” The Smoke Shop shortly before 3.45am before a molotov cocktail was blasted onto the street.

The Lara Smoke Shop smashed window. Picture: Alison Wynd

Detectives from Geelong CIU are gathering CCTV footage from nearby businesses and will investigate any connection between the incident and a spate of arson attacks across Melbourne, linked to two suspected Middle Eastern organised crime gangs.

One witness said a car was seen reversing into the Lara tobacco store before a man jumped out and lit a molotov cocktail.

“It exploded onto the bitumen,” he said.

A police spokeswoman said an offender fled the scene on foot.

The shop was also targeted on Saturday when a molotov cocktail is alleged to have been thrown at the front door.

They have been used in similar attacks targeting the illegal tobacco trade across Melbourne, being investigated by the Lunar Taskforce.

More than three dozen arson attacks have targeted smoke shops, gyms, restaurants and ice cream joints.

Rising tensions between two Middle Eastern gangs fighting for control of the industry is understood to be behind the escalating war.

Six Melbourne men, including some with alleged links to a suspected Middle Eastern crime family, were charged on Tuesday for allegedly trying to import 10 million illicit cigarettes into Victoria after a 16-month “extensive investigation.”

The Lara Smoke Shop smashed window. Picture: Alison Wynd

“We know the syndicates involved have a complete lack of regard for the harm they are inflicting on the community, and the arson attacks in particular put not only peoples livelihoods at stake but also people’s lives,” Taskforce Lunar Detective Inspector Graham Banks said.

“We will continue to do everything we can to bring this dispute and the criminality linked to it to an end.

“If there are shop owners out there who have been approached to pay sums of money or who have been threatened in any way, then we urge you to contact police.”

Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria Police were devoting a “huge amount of resources” to tackle the growing number of tobacco store fires.

The same Lara store was also targeted on Saturday.

It comes as a model car shop that doubles as a tobacco store was gutted by a suspicious fire in Ballarat on Wednesday night.

Anyone with information on either incident can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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Originally published as Lara tobacco store targeted again in ram-raid, firebomb attack