Second Hadfield shop torched within 24 hours may have been targeted by tobacco syndicate

A crime syndicate known as The Commission is trying to control Melbourne’s illicit tobacco market, and may be launching a campaign of terror to get its way.

A second Hadfield cigarette shop torched within 24 hours may have been targeted by the state’s leading illicit tobacco syndicate.

Arson and explosives squad detectives are investigating the firebombing of the West Street Convenience Store on Wednesday morning, a crime suspected of being linked to the volatile illegal smoke trade.

Emergency crews were called to the unoccupied business just after 5am to find it engulfed by fire.

It’s believed the shop is owned by the same people who own Hadfield Finest Fruit and Veg on East St, which was damaged by arsonists a day earlier.

The tobacco store was badly damaged in the blaze. Picture: David Crosling

A second Hadfield store has been torched in as many days. Picture: David Crosling

Yassin El-Hawli and Khoder El-Hawli are listed as business directors of the East St store and are understood to also operate the West St shop.

Industry sources say tobacco sales at the shops were against the interests of a huge crime syndicate which has been running a body called The Commission.

The Commission aims to control the illicit market in the same way its counterpart of the same name regulates the cocaine trade.

On Wednesday evening, police were yet to make any arrests over the West St shop fire.

The attack is the latest in a now lengthy series of suspected arson attacks on tobacco stores across Melbourne, dating back to 2021.

Many of the blazes have links between Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs operating illegal tobacco syndicates.

The shop may have been targeted by an illicit tobacco syndicate. Picture: David Crosling

Arson squad detectives outside the burnt-out tobacco store on West St in Hadfield. Picture: David Crosling

An employee at another greengrocer near the West St tobacco shop said he heard “three loud bangs” before rushing over to check it out on Wednesday morning.

“I was putting the capsicums out the front and I heard three loud bangs,” worker Bruno Lo Piccolo said.

“I turned around and the shop was on fire.

“I went down to check it out and saw it was smoking up.”

Mr Lo Piccolo said he had no idea who was behind the string of attacks and didn’t fear for his shop’s safety.

The scorched roller door at the entry to the Hadfield tobacco shop. Picture: David Crosling

“There’s always some sort of occurrence but it’s nothing we’re not used to.”

The Herald Sun revealed this month that murdered gangland figure Mohammed Keshtiar was suspected of having links to The Commission and that the regular firebombings of smoke and vape shops was being generated by turf wars involving major organised crime syndicates and bikies.

Speaking about the spate of recent attacks, Detective Inspector Chris Murray from Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad said they were honing in on the alleged offenders.

“We will continue to target anyone involved or even associated with this offending and this syndicate,” he said.

“This is only the beginning.

“It is reprehensible and police will not tolerate such blatant and dangerous criminal conduct in our communities.”

Greengrocer torched in latest attack

Police said the attack on Hadfield Finest Fruit and Veg on Tuesday was “likely linked” to a spate of arson attacks on tobacco shops dating back to March.

Emergency services were called to a car fire at the corner of East and Middle streets, which spread to the Hadfield Finest Fruit and Veg in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A car was reversed through the front of the shop with an LPG tank in its boot.

The shop front sign was left charcoaled and blistered after the blaze burnt a large hole through the security roller doors.

Investigators are hunting a white Audi that was seen near the shop when the fire broke out, and are appealing for anyone who saw the burnt Volkswagen Jetta before it was set alight.

It follows a series of targeted fire attacks that ravaged homes, businesses and vehicles across Fawkner, Greenvale, Oakleigh, Fraser Rise, Caroline Springs, Maribyrnong, Collingwood and Port Melbourne in June and July.

The fire spread to the nearby fruit and veg shop. Picture: Jason Edwards

The charred remains of the car backed up outside the store. Picture: Jason Edwards

Detective Inspector Chris Murray from Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad said investigators were exploring the motives behind the blaze believed to be linked to the previous attacks.

“The Arson and Explosives Squad will be looking at all possible motives for this fire, and we have strong avenues of inquiry to identify the offenders,” he said.

“This is inherently dangerous behaviour and I want to assure the public that police will not tolerate such blatant and dangerous criminal conduct in our communities.”

In June, the Herald Sun revealed that a vape store linked to gangland identity Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim had been hit by three firebombing attacks in less than a month.

Another Moonee Ponds tobacconist was set alight on June 3 and a Werribee tobacconist was torched on June 22.

The scene of the blaze on Tuesday morning. Picture: Jason Edwards

Police investigate fire at Hadfield grocer. Picture: Jason Edwards

Police have arrested several people, including four patched members of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang, over the suspicious fires.

The operator of a torched Hadfield greengrocer lives just three doors from a businessman whose home and business was firebombed amid a string of targeted attacks in June.

The Herald Sun can reveal Khodar El-Hawli and Yassin El-Hawli are listed as the business directors of the store and live in the same Greenvale street as the directors of popular Collingwood grocer Sonsa Market.

Sonsa Market supermarket in Collingwood was torched in June.

Sonsa Market was deliberately set on fire on June 29, in an incident believed to be linked to 11 other arson attacks across Melbourne.

Sonsa Market’s director, Ali Gunes, lives at a sprawling Montrose Ct home where a car was also firebombed on June 25.

Police arrested Ali Gunes’ brother, Hasan Gunes, and a former bikie over a roadside brawl in Ravenhall on July 7, for which Mr Gunes was charged with reckless conduct endangering injury and affray.

The relationship between Khodar and Yassin is not yet clear.

Police are calling for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.