Attack on two women at a Morwell store was ‘an unprovoked and violent assault’, police say

Two teenagers have been charged with standing over the owner of a tobacco store and carrying out a violent and unprovoked attack on two female employees in the Latrobe Valley.

An anti-illicit tobacco taskforce has arrested two teenagers for ordering a Latrobe Valley smoke shop to close within 24 hours and bashing two women when that didn’t happen.

An 18-year-old from Hoppers Crossing and a 17-year-old have been charged with allegedly standing over the owner of a tobacco store after being detained at 9am on Monday.

Investigators from the Lunar taskforce have raided five tobacconists in the area as part of their probe.

The charges follow incidents at a Tarwin Avenue, Morwell, store on November 24 and 25.

An 18-year-old Hoppers Crossing man arrested by Lunar taskforce investigators.

The two men allegedly threatened the shop’s owner about 5pm before one of the men returned the next day with another man and bashed two female staff members.

Police are investigating whether the pair were sent to the Valley by organised crime figures in conflict over market share in the illicit tobacco trade.

Another woman and a young child were present during the attack but were not hurt.

The intruders allegedly stole several sets of car keys.

Police said members of VIPER taskforce and Latrobe Valley CIU on Monday executed seven warrants in the Latrobe Valley area “as part of the ongoing investigation into organised crime syndicates linked to illicit tobacco”.

Five tobacco stores, including one in Moe, three in Morwell and one in Traralgon, a home and a storage facility in Morwell were searched.

Investigators seized significant quantities of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks of Taskforce Lunar said the attack on the two women was “an unprovoked and violent assault”.

“As long as people’s lives remain at risk due to this heightened criminal activity, we will continue to do absolutely everything we can to deter, disrupt and dismantle these syndicates,” he said.

“This was an unprovoked and violent assault of two women as a young child watched on.

“It is critical that anyone purchasing illicit tobacco understands the ramifications of doing so.

‘You are directly funding organised crime groups who coordinate significant acts of violence such as this.

“Today’s warrants also highlight our continued presence in regional Victoria – we will target organised criminal activity related to illicit tobacco irrespective of where you are in the state.”

Police have arrested 20 people since Taskforce Lunar was established in October.

More than two million cigarettes, almost a tonne of loose tobacco, 100,000 e-cigarettes and 800 grams of cocaine have been seized.

The investigation is ongoing and police have called for owners and workers at tobacco stores to come forward.

Anyone with information about the incidents or about illicit tobacco should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.