Police probe latest tobacco shop fire after Morwell store goes up in flames

Police are investigating if a tobacco store in Morwell that burnt down overnight is the latest casualty in the state’s tobacco wars.

A tobacco store in Morwell is the latest smoke shop destroyed by fire.

Police are expected to investigate whether the busy Commercial Rd business is another casualty in Victoria’s tobacco wars.

The shop went up in flames at about 2.30am on Wednesday.

Locals say it had been doing a brisk trade for some time.

“There was a constant stream of customers,” one said.

There was a fire at a tobacconist in Lloyd St, Moe, on Christmas Day.

The burnt-out tobacco store in Morwell. Picture: Facebook

Several Finks bikies were arrested over that blaze and what police will allege were connected arsons on businesses in Altona, Altona North, Croydon and Sunshine.

There has been a wave of about 30 firebombings in the past year on tobacconists and other businesses police believe is linked yo conflict between syndicated battling for control of the state’s illicit tobacco trade.

One of the key players is believed to be exiled gangland figure Kaz Hamad who is now living in the Middle-east but remains a powerful figure here.

The dozens of blazes last year led to Victoria Police setting up the Lunar taskforce, which has in recent times made a number of arrests and big hauls of illegal product.