Police probe suspicious fire at Greenvale Milkbar and Deli in Greenvale
A small milk bar in Melbourne’s north has become the 100th store to go up in flames in an illegal tobacco war that shows no signs of easing.
Victoria
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A small milk bar in Melbourne’s north has become the 100th blaze linked to the illicit tobacco conflict.
Emergency crews were called to the Greenvale Milkbar and Deli on Greenvale Rd about 3am on Monday.
Police believe four offenders smashed their way into the store using sledgehammers before dousing it in petrol and fleeing in a vehicle.
A tobacco industry source said the incident was inevitable.
“We knew this day would come and, at this rate, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that we’ll see another 100 firebombings,” he said.
“The federal and state governments are both asleep at the wheel. They’ve got their eyes closed and their fingers in their ears hoping that voters won’t notice.
“This is a dire and dangerous situation that is escalating at a rate that is plain scary.”
The fire is the 100th in the state since March last year, as crime gangs fight for control of the illicit tobacco market.
Police formed Taskforce Lunar in October last year, led by detective Inspector Graham Banks.
He said the unit had made significant inroads and would not stop in its pursuit of tracking down offenders.
“Since this series of fires started in March last year, a significant amount of work has been done by police to investigate the incidents and hold those responsible to account,” Inspector Banks said.
“It’s worth noting that most of the tobacco stores targeted by arsonists are suspected of being involved in the selling of illicit tobacco and vapes.”
Store owners and workers near the shop remained tight-lipped in the wake of the inferno.
It is understood the owners of the Greenvale Milkbar and Deli came by the store on Monday morning and were “distraught”.
The shop has serving the community for over 20 years.
Inside, grocery items and shelving were left mangled and burnt.
The thick smell of accelerant hung in the air as shoppers and customers walked by the store throughout the morning.
Monday’s attack comes just over a week after a group of teens attempted to burn down the same milk bar.
It is understood a trio of thugs tried to ram raid the store just before 3am on September 8, carrying at least two jerry cans full of accelerant.
The teens drove the car over the pavement but crashed into a pylon outside the front of the shop.
As they tried to free the car, it is believed a police vehicle just happened to be driving past the scene.
The group then led police on a wild chase through Melbourne’s north west, with officers able to stop the car using stop sticks along Canning St in Avondale Heights at 4.30am.
The three teens, including a 15-year-old Essendon boy, a 17-year-old Avondale Heights boy and an 18-year-old Airport West man were arrested and charged with attempted criminal damage by arson among other offences.
The two boys were remanded into custody and are set to face a children’s court at a later date.
The 18-year-old was bailed will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on December 5.
A resident walking nearby the store during the arson attack early this morning described the situation as “scary s**t”.
The man, who wished not to be identified, said he was first alerted to the scene when he heard the sound of fire emanating from the store.
“All I heard was a loud whoosh and then I’ve seen a ball of flames,” he said.
He immediately called triple-0 and filmed the chaos left in the wake of the attack.
It is believed the offenders smashed their way into the store using sledgehammers before they doused the store in fuel.
The resident said it was “disappointing” to see an attack just over a week after the store was targeted by arsonists.
“It’s disappointing, unfortunately, but that’s our justice system for you,” he said.
“It’s scary times.”
In light of the bungled attempt last week, police have conducted daily patrols of the area in the hope of stopping a repeat attack.
The attack on the Greenvale shop comes a day after a Thornbury smoke shop was torched on September 15.
Tobacco on High in Thornbury became the 99th store to be torched after a Moe tobacconist was set alight a week earlier.
One tobacco industry source said this day was inevitable.
“We knew this day would come and at this rate it’s not outside the realms of possibility that we’ll see another 100 firebombings because the federal and state government are both asleep at the wheel,” he said.
“They’ve got their eyes closed and their fingers in their ears hoping voters won’t notice and see it as an election issue.
“This is a dire and dangerous situation that is escalating at a rate that is plain scary.”
The 100 fires include targeted attacks on tobacconists, gyms, restaurants and cafes.
Dozens of cars, which have been used to torch buildings, are also included in the figure.
The flurry of fires up to October last year prompted the creation of the Lunar Taskforce, a dedicated team of 40-odd detectives working to dismantle the black market trade.
Victoria is the only state in the country to not have a tobacco store licensing scheme.
Exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad, who is believed to be operating out of the Middle East, has been widely regarded as one of the main drivers of the warfare.
He has waged war against western suburbs smoke king Fadi Haddara for the best part of 18 months.
For years, Haddara ran the underground smoke trade largely unopposed, raking in eye-watering profits from his untouched market domination.
But Hamad has been relentless in his alleged efforts to take down Haddara and is likely behind the vast majority of the 100 fires.
The conflict has seen one man murdered while countless non-fatal shootings remain unsolved.
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