Smoke stores in Gladstone Park and Hadfield destroyed in tobacco war firebombings
It can be revealed that the attack at a Gladstone Park tobacco store – one of two firebombings overnight – followed a standover attempt that was poorly received by its owner.
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A tobacco war foot soldier threatened the owner of a Gladstone Park smoke shop less than a month before it was hit by arsonists.
The MMM Mini Mart went up in flames early on Sunday morning in one of four separate fire attacks believed to be linked to the fight for Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade at the weekend.
Arsonists torched that store at the Gladstone Park Shopping centre about 5.45am, less than an hour after a Hadfield tobacconist, called Middle East Tobacconist, went up in flames.
It can be revealed that the attack at Gladstone Park followed a standover attempt that was poorly received by its owner, listed on business documents as Abdul Elhouli, about two weeks ago.
The Herald Sun has obtained an image of a young-looking man wearing a cap and black hoodie inside the smoke shop, which had shelves lined with hookah pipes, used to smoke shisha, and tobacco accessories, on April 30.
He is then believed to have demanded money in exchange for the business remaining untouched by arsonists on behalf of a major player in the illegal tobacco trade.
The standover bid and a spate of smoke shop arsons at the weekend raise questions about a reported ceasefire between the Hamad and Haddara crime syndicates, the biggest players in Victoria’s illegal tobacco trade, with extortion attempts expected to continue.
Fadi Haddara’s syndicate has maintained dominance over the market for more than a decade before dozens of attacks began in March last year.
Exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad is believed to be the main heavy hitter terrorising Victorian smoke shops from the Middle East through menacing phone calls or fire bombings allegedly carried out by foot soldiers on his behalf.
Among several arrests linked to the fiery conflict, Task Force Lunar detectives nabbed one of Hamad’s suspected key enforcers, 25-year-old Majid Alibadi, who since facing court over his involvement in torching a restaurant owned by Hadara has been bailed to attend rehab for severe meth and alcohol addictions.
Arson detectives will investigate whether Sunday’s attacks are connected to the ongoing war.
A witness told the Herald Sun it was the second time the East Street location had been set ablaze within the past year.
Fire tore through the shopfront in August last year while it was branded Hadfield Finest Fruit and Veg, with police branding the incident as one “likely linked” to the spate of arson attacks on tobacco shops in Melbourne.
The front of the tobacconist was left charcoaled and burnt after Sunday mornings attack, police tape cordoning off the premises while detectives continue their investigations.
It comes after two other smoke shops were razed by fire on Saturday.
A vape shop was targeted on Barkly St in Ararat in the state’s west about 3.30am.
About 30 minutes later, arsonists torched the Epping Tobacconist, Vape and Shisha Store, completely destroying its interior and badly damaging their security roller door.
More than 45 separate arsons are believed to be linked to the ongoing tobacco conflict.
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