The big six bikie gangs and Melbourne’s raging tobacco wars: Links explained

From firebombings to outlaw trade, all of Australia’s big-six bikie gangs have had a part in the raging tobacco wars of the past two years. Now, the moves made by each are explained.

All of Australia’s big-six bikie gangs have had a part in the fiery tobacco wars mayhem of the past two years.

The Finks, Rebels, Mongols, Hells Angels, Comanchero and Bandidos have been implicated in arson attacks and illicit tobacco distribution as competition for market share has intensified.

The total number of torchings nationwide is pushing towards 200.

A tobacco shop on High Street Epping was allegedly torched by arsonists in May last year. Picture: Epping CFA

A tobacco shop went up in flames in High St, Thornbury in September last year during the raging tobacco wars. Picture: David Crosling

Some of the bikies’ work is hand in glove with the powerful Middle-eastern organised crime syndicates which are fighting to control the multi-billion dollar sector.

The bikies have been implicated in firebombings of shops and other businesses, but there has also been evidence they are connected to big importations of smokes and vapes.

The Finks are believed to have had heavy involvement in the outlaw trade.

Senior players are suspected of having close links to one of the main syndicates and their members have been charged over some of the firebombings carried out as part of Melbourne’s conflict.

Rebels members have come under scrutiny over torchings on tobacco shops in country areas of Victoria.

Mongols have previously been tied to major international tobacco shipments and firebombings of stores in suburban Melbourne.

Thirty three members of the Comanchero gang were arrested late last year. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The Comanchero were the subject of a major national police sting resulting in the arrests of 33 members and their associates late last year.

More than $1.5m worth of illicit tobacco and vapes were seized in the huge crackdown of the gang’s alleged ties to the smoke trade across the country.

One alleged member was charged with extortion and drug offences while another man, an alleged associate of the Comanchero, was charged with drug trafficking in Queensland.

Underworld sources say the Hells Angels are suspected of being a factor in friction in Adelaide over control of that city’s illegal smoke business.

The relentless firebombings have also spread to every mainland state with the number of tobacconists torched nudging 200.

More than 120 shops in Victoria have been torched while about 12 have gone up in flames across Queensland, 20 in South Australia, roughly 15 in New South Wales and at least eight in Western Australia.

The warfare in Melbourne has threatened to erupt in South Australia but has been curbed in recent times after authorities there quickly moved to bring in new laws aimed at the racketeers.

There are signs of trouble in Sydney where a recent violent episode highlighted increasing competition.

A man almost lost a toe there recently after an attempt to rob a rival gang’s one tonne illicit smoke stockpile turned to bloodshed.