Melbourne A Class Smash Repairs set alight in suspicious blaze
A panel-beating shop torched in what may be the latest salvo in Melbourne’s tobacco wars has previously been linked to prominent crime figure Fadi Haddara.
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A panel-beating shop torched in what may be the latest salvo in Melbourne’s tobacco wars has previously been linked to a prominent crime figure.
In 2014, Fadi Haddara was arrested at Melbourne A Class Smash Repairs, in Williamstown North, as part of a major operation by organised-crime detectives.
The business, in Orange St, was targeted by arsonists about 4.15am on Thursday, with several cars in the front yard set alight.
Fire Rescue Victoria units arrived at the scene to find the blaze had spread to the workshop area.
The building was severely damaged before the fire was extinguished by 5am.
“At this stage, the fire is being treated as suspicious and investigations remain ongoing,” a Victoria Police statement said.
The Herald Sun has been told links to Melbourne’s illicit tobacco industry will be one line of inquiry.
Haddara was arrested at A Class Smash Repairs nine years ago as part of Operation Skyborne – a major investigation into drug and gun trafficking.
Court hearings were told he was the sole owner of the business and the ringleader of a crime syndicate.
Police alleged Haddara sold guns and drugs from the premises.
He was ultimately jailed for 23 months and released in 2017.
In 2019, Haddara was ordered to front court as a witness in a fatal fight night triple-shooting at Kensington. He had been a spectator at the boxing event when young father Ben Togiai was shot dead outside and two other men were wounded.
Company documents show A Class Smash Repairs is now owned by Nazim Haddara, of Hoppers Crossing.
The Skyborne probe carried out raids on 45 properties in 23 suburbs throughout Melbourne’s west and northwest as well as regional Victoria.
Police uncovered 35,000 tobacco plants being grown on a property at Moorabool, near Geelong.
There have been 20 arson attacks linked to conflict in the illicit tobacco trade since March.
Powerful Melbourne crime syndicates are locked in a fight for control of the lucrative black market.
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