The key underworld figures fuelling tobacco trade firebombings

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A turf war over the control of Melbourne’s tobacco trade is being fuelled by a rivalry between a notorious crime family and a convicted drug trafficker living in exile in Dubai.

Several shops selling tobacco products have been torched over the past few months. The firebombings flared up again early on Wednesday, with a second attack on a convenience store in the northern suburbs in less than 24 hours.

Police and arson investigators at the scene of the fire in West Street, Hadfield. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Police are investigating a fire at a shopfront on West Street in Hadfield that was lit on Wednesday morning. The site is just a kilometre away from a fruit and vegetable market that was set alight on Tuesday morning.

Emergency services were called to the West Street Convenience Store after the arsonists damaged a roller door and set the shop on fire just after 5am. The shop, which sells cigarettes and other tobacco products, was empty at the time.

Detectives from the arson and explosives squad believe the attacks are part of a turf war between organised crime groups battling for control of the state’s multimillion-dollar illicit tobacco trade.

Since late March, there have been 13 arson attacks against specialty tobacco retailers and shops selling tobacco products across Melbourne and in regional Victoria.

The West Street convenience store was set on fire about 5am on Wednesday. Credit: Chris Hopkins

Police and underworld sources say the violence ignited from long-running friction between a crime family from the northern suburbs and a Middle Eastern gang headed by the banished drug trafficker.

The foreign national, who cannot be named for legal reasons, recently finished a lengthy prison stint and has set up operations in Dubai since being deported from Australia. The man, who retains strong links to criminal associates in Melbourne, is also suspected of involvement in several murders and attempted murders.

The crime family has a long history of links to the illicit tobacco trade, including backing a record $67 million importation ring that law enforcement agencies smashed a decade ago.

Mohammed ‘Afghan Ali’ Akbar Keshtiar.

Bikie clubs including the Finks and the Mongols are also suspected of involvement in a series of standovers and arson attacks over the past two years.

The play to monopolise the illicit tobacco market has included demands that retailers pay a “tax” of $1000 a week and sell cigarettes illegally smuggled into Australia from Dubai and China. Refusals have been met with arson attacks and threats to injure the family members of the tobacco shop operators.

Police are also investigating whether the tobacco feud could be connected to the murder of underworld figure Mohammed “Afghan Ali” Akbar Keshtiar, who was gunned down near Chapel Street while walking home from the gym with an associate earlier this month.

Several underworld sources have named Keshtiar as one of the key players involved in the extortion racket and feud.

Detective Acting Inspector Ash Ryan from the anti-gang Echo taskforce said the brazen acts of violence were attracting the full attention of police.

“Before they got violent, they were getting away with it. Obviously, they’re attracting our attention and we’ll target them from whatever angle we have to,” he said.

Detectives from Echo, the arson and explosives squad and Australian Border Force have visited more than 70 tobacco shops to gather intelligence about the infiltration of criminal elements and the standover scheme.

While police have made a number of arrests, ring leaders remain on the loose.

“We know the people doing the arson attacks are low-hanging fruit: low-level drug dealers and street gangs. It’s being outsourced,” Ryan said.

Syndicate members are well versed in distancing themselves from the trade, using a network of intermediaries to import and handle the illicit goods, which makes the critical task of charging those responsible challenging for federal law enforcement agencies.

Police intelligence and underworld sources say the tobacco market has been infiltrated by hardcore organised crime groups, such as drug traffickers, who are using the funds from the extortion and sale of illicit tobacco to fund further criminal enterprises.

“All the big drug groups are into it now. It’s big money. If you get caught, the jail is nothing compared to what you’d get from drugs,” an underworld source said.

The profit that can be made from selling illegal tobacco products has been driving criminal activity in the market.

“There’s a greater market for tobacco. More people smoke than use illicit drugs,” Ryan said.

“The higher the price gets here, the better for them.”

Investigators are appealing for anyone with information or footage of the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online.

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