Tobacco war figure Frederico Bruno jailed on firearm charges

A Thomastown mechanic arrested as part of an investigation into Victoria’s tobacco wars has been jailed after police seized firearms from his business last month.

A mechanic charged with firearm offences as part of an investigation into Victoria’s tobacco wars has been jailed.

Frederico Bruno, 48, at Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday was handed a three-month jail term after pleading guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition seized during a raid of his Thomastown mechanic shop last month.

The court heard a deal had been reached with prosecutors which saw his other charges dropped in exchange for a guilty plea.

Frederico Bruno was arrested on the same day as Majid Alibadi last month. Picture: Victoria Police

Investigators from Taskforce Lunar, which was set up to disrupt the state’s illicit tobacco trade, uncovered stolen and imitation firearms including a loaded handgun in a fridge at Bruno’s shop on January 30.

He told police he owned the firearms and used them for protection as he worked on expensive vehicles in a high burglary area.

Detective Acting Sergeant Bonita Di Giangregorio told an earlier hearing one of Bruno’s firearms was stolen during a burglary in Sunshine West in 2021 and police feared he had access to other firearms.

Bruno’s lawyer James Anderson said there was no evidence of his client owning the guns for “nefarious purposes” and police had not taken steps to investigate if he had access to other weapons.

Magistrate Helen Murphy on Tuesday ordered Bruno, who has already spent 28 days behind bars, to complete 150 hours of community work after his release.

Alleged tobacco war ringleader Majid Alibadi, 25, was arrested on the same day as Bruno after police also carried out raids in Epping and Campbellfield.