Man charged with arson over Craigieburn tobacco shop fire

Detectives have charged a man accused of torching a Craigieburn smoke shop late last year as the state’s tobacco wars rage on.

A man accused of torching a Craigieburn smoke shop as part of Victoria’s tobacco war has faced court for the first time.

Brandon Hart, 32, was charged with arson after The Royal Convenience Store on Craigieburn Rd was set alight in the early hours of December 10.

Several men were seen exiting a black Holden Commodore, which pulled up directly outside the store, before an accelerant was tossed inside.

The corner store, located in the Craigieburn Plaza, then went up in flames and the crew fled the scene.

Mr Hart, from Epping, was arrested by Lunar Taskforce detectives on Spencer St in Docklands just before 11am on Thursday.

He briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with arson and theft of a motor vehicle.

The court heard he had three pending criminal matters.

His lawyer said he was withdrawing from drugs and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

Mr Hart did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear in court on February 21.

A man has been charged after a Craigieburn tobacconist was set alight in December. Picture: Victoria Police

Additional search warrants were executed at homes in Glenroy, Reservoir and Epping on Thursday.

A Reservoir man, 25, was interviewed by detectives and is expected to be charged on summons.

Police say the black Commodore used in the blaze was stolen from a Bundoora home just two hours before the shop was set alight.

The store sustained significant damage and the Commodore was found burnt-out along Companion Place in Epping about 10km.

Business documents state the Royal Convenience Store is owned by a group called MMM Mini Mart.

A smoke shop at Gladstone Park operating under the same name was set on fire in May last year.

The shop was subject to an alleged standover attempt two weeks before it was targeted by arsonists.

There have now been about 130 arson attacks linked to friction surrounding the illicit tobacco trade.

But there has been a recent period of stability with the last known tobacco fire a number of weeks ago.

Originally published as Man charged with arson over Craigieburn tobacco shop fire