Epping man Majid Alibadi charged over string of fires linked to Melbourne tobacco wars

A 25-year-old man who police allege was the ringleader and director of four arson attacks has faced court.

An alleged key player in Victoria’s tobacco wars has been named as Majid Alibadi.

The Epping man, 25, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon following his arrest by Lunar Taskforce detectives in Bundoora.

Police allege he was the “ringleader and director” of four arson attacks including two blazes at the Karizma restaurant, owned by underworld figure Fadi Haddara, in November.

He is also accused of setting alight a Glenroy tobacco store in October and a Tullamarine reception centre fire in December.

Seated in the prisoner dock wearing a black Nike t-shirt, Mr Alibadi kept his arms crossed during the brief administrative hearing.

Majid Alibadi is accused of being a key player in Victoria’s tobacco wars.

Magistrate Jarrod Williams granted 12 weeks for prosecutors to prepare a brief of evidence, six weeks longer than the usual allocation, to allow time for analysis of DNA found at crime scenes and on weapons.

The court heard time was also needed to translate foreign language audio recordings.

Mr Alibadi made no application for bail and was remanded to reappear on May 11.

Charge sheets allege Mr Alibadi, who is facing arson, extortion and property damage offences, threatened a store owner that his business would be damaged unless he paid another man $2000 a month.

Mr Alibadi is facing arson, extortion and property damage offences

The Glenroy arson attack also destroyed $451,000 in stock and endangered the occupants of apartments above the store front, charge sheets state.

Mr Alibadi’s co-accused Frederico Bruno, 48, from Thomastown, appeared in court on Wednesday night where he was denied bail for firearm offences.

The court heard stolen guns, including a loaded handgun found in a fridge, and large amounts of ammunition were seized from Mr Bruno’s panel shop in Thomastown during police raids on Tuesday.

In opposing bail, Lunar investigator Bonita Di Giangregorio told the court Mr Bruno had a “cavalier attitude” towards the weapons, which he claimed were for his own protection.

“My concern is he failed to see the seriousness of the charges,” she said.

The court heard one firearm, a longarm, had been stolen during a burglary in Sunshine West in 2021 while another weapon was stolen from Box Hill last year.

Mr Bruno was remanded to appear in Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on February 13.

CCTV of the moment the Docklands restaurant owned by Fadi Haddara went up in flames. Picture: Victoria Police

Lunar was set up last year to investigate the wave of fires which have hit tobacco stores since March.

Non-tobacco businesses, including gyms, a panel shop, an ice cream shop and a cafe, also started to be attacked in the second half of the year.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks said Mr Alibadi was alleged to be the “ringleader and director” of the four arson attacks.

He said he suspected Mr Alibadi had been ordered to coordinate the attacks by a major player overseas.

“We’re very much aware that many of the people who are committing the arsons are very much at the bottom of the chain,” he said.

“And we’re saying this person has direct contact with the person who was directing all the harm from overseas and is then coordinating that harm in Victoria.”

Police allege Mr Alibadi is “part of a syndicate that’s directed most of the harm in the community over the last four months.”

CCTV footage reveals a man walking near Karizma restaurant before the fire. Picture: Victoria Police

Police executed warrants at two Epping addresses and properties in Campbellfield and Thomastown.

Detectives seized four firearms including two rifles, a handgun and an imitation longarm, as well as a stack of ammunition from the Thomastown property.

A 48-year-old Thomastown man was subsequently charged with a range of gun offences.

He is also expected to face court on Wednesday.

Police also seized 615kg of loose tobacco from the Campbellfield address, worth an estimated $800,000.

More than 720,000 cigarettes with an excise value of $750,000 and more than 1000 vapes worth $30,000 were also seized from the property.

The Campbellfield man, 40, was released pending further inquiries.

Inspector Banks said Tuesday’s arrest wouldn’t deter the figurehead overseas.