Adelaide businesses burning as illicit tobacco trade heating up in South Australia

Police are investigating if seven fires across Adelaide could be linked to the underground tobacco market.

Police are investigating whether up to eight arson attacks across the city have been linked to the lucrative illicit tobacco trade.

Fifteen “persons of interest” have been uncovered and two people have been arrested in the last six months.

“Besides the two arrests that we have made, we have seized thousands of dollars in cash and are continuing to conduct investigations in to those matters,” Detective Superintendent Shane Addison, officer-in- charge of SAPOL’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch, said on Monday.

A Henley Beach Rd IT business in Brooklyn Park suffered extensive damage in a suspicious fire attack.

ASG Smokes and Gifts in Brooklyn Park is believed to have been the intended target after GFIXI, located next door, was burned in a suspicious fire Sunday night. Picture: Matt Loxton

CCTV of suspicious blaze at a northern suburbs restaurant which has caused $200,000 damage – one of the allegedly illicit tobacco linked arsons.

Owner of GFIXI, Mirel Pande, told 7NEWS she was in tears when she saw the damage to her business – which seems to have been wrongly attacked instead of the next door tobacco shop ASG Smokes and Gifts.

“Even my kids after school, I pick him up and bring him (to the shop) with me, this is my second home,” Ms Pande said.

The suspected eighth incident, the second overnight, involved a molotov cocktail attempting to be thrown through a Blair Athol business’ window – which is suspected to be linked to one of the prior tobacco shop attacks.

Other arson attacks being investigated as linked to the trade include three vehicle fires across Glenelg North, Walkley Heights and Mawson Lakes, with restaurants and businesses targeted in Torrensville, Enfield and Hindmarsh.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by those who were the subject of attacks.

Sup Addison said police are focusing on reported instances of arson, assault, and extortion in relation to the trade – with the two charged with serious criminal trespass and money laundering.

Sup Addison said the taskforce is doing everything to ensure the suspicious arson in South Australia does not reach a level similar to Melbourne.

“It is absolutely our intent to prevent ourselves getting into a position where you have mass arsons in the way Victoria has,” he said.

Victorian detectives have been investigating more than 50 fires since March last year.

More than a dozen other businesses - including reception centres, restaurants and ice cream stores - have also gone up in flames.

Sup Addison said Operation Eclipse is a collaboration with law enforcement partners in Victoria and across the country, alongside Consumer and Business Affairs Tobacco Investigations – who conduct regulatory oversight of the tobacco industry – and Australian Border Force who regulate the product entering the country.

Originally published as Adelaide businesses burning as illicit tobacco trade heating up in South Australia