Melbourne tobacco wars
| Melbourne tobacco wars | |
|---|---|
| Part of Organised crime in Australia | |
 A tobacconist after an arson attack in Altona North | |
| Date | 24 March 2023 – ongoing[1] |
| Location | |
| Methods | Arson Extortion Shooting Firebombing Ram-raiding |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Casualties | |
| Death | 1 (mistaken identity)[2] |
| Arrested | Over 100 (as of January 2025)[3] |
Buildings destroyed | Over 100[4] |
The Melbourne tobacco wars are an ongoing series of violent criminal incidents centered on turf wars between organised crime groups over control of the illegal tobacco trade in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The conflict has been marked by firebombings, extortion, and shootings. As of early 2025, Victoria Police report over 125 arson attacks and more than 100 arrests.
Background
The illegal tobacco trade in Australia is highly lucrative due to high taxation on legal tobacco. Organised crime groups have increasingly turned to this trade, leading to violent competition over territory and market control.
A 2023 investigation by The Age reported that some gangs were importing illegal cigarettes via container ports or manufacturing them locally. Illicit tobacco is sold through otherwise legitimate-looking stores, often owned or operated by front companies. A packet of cigarettes costing up to $50 AUD in taxes when sold legally might be sold for as little as $15 AUD under the counter.[5]
The retail turf war intensified after new Commonwealth laws increased penalties and enforcement powers related to illicit tobacco in mid-2023.[6]
Conflict
Criminal syndicates have been targeting rival tobacco shops and convenience stores suspected of selling illicit tobacco. The attacks include petrol bombings, arson, and extortion attempts. Taskforce Lunar, established by Victoria Police, is investigating the conflict.[7] Many of these criminal syndicates operate offshore, with several operations based in the Middle East.[7][8]
Certain experts have linked the illicit tobacco trade to financing for terrorist groups. Illegal tobacco criminal underworld boss Kazem Hamad, who was deported to Iraq in 2023, has been implicated in being involved in attacks in Melbourne targeting Jewish businesses, in addition to over 150 attacks targeting tobacco shops across Melbourne. One such firebombing was connected to the 2024 Adass Israel Synagogue attack.[8]
According to Taskforce Lunar, investment and interest in the illicit tobacco trade by organized crime syndicates began over a decade ago, in 2015.[7] In 2018, a federal Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) was created to thwart the activity and the increasing infiltration of organised crime syndicates into the illicit tobacco market.[9] In early 2023, organized crime syndicates formed a commission to regulate the prices of illegal cigarettes. This deal excluded crime boss Kazem Hamad, who kicked off a series of retribution attacks.[9][7]
Over 100 people have been arrested in connection with the conflict as of January 2025.[3]
Since April 2026, almost 20 firebombings of Melbourne restaurants and bars have been connected to the tobacco wars which has recently been named "The Bar Wars".[10][11] Authorities have warned that this is a new evolution of the gang war as criminal gangs move away from tobacco and into the realm of illicit alcohol sales.[12]
Victorian police have warned about the escalating state of the conflict, as law enforcement warns it may be falling behind organised crime syndicates using encrypted telecommunications technology and cryptocurrency to avoid surveillance and detection from the federal government of their criminal activities.[13] Sources from the underworld have said that criminal syndicates have commissioned the creation of an app that will allow customers of illicit cigarettes to order the product through the platform and have it delivered directly to their homes or businesses.[9]
Tobacco retailers can receive a threatening note, either left on the front of their business or delivered in person, warning them to the call "The Commission" on a encrypted WhatsApp number otherwise face being "burnt down".[14][15][16]
In July 2026, The Age newspaper reported that there were 200 tobacco retailers in 2017 and in 2026 now there are 1400.[17]
In the same month, police charged a 20-year-old Essendon man for allegedly organising attacks on hospitality venues.[18] The man is reportedly a senior member of "The Commission".[19]
Casualties and damages
Victoria Police have confirmed over 100 properties have been firebombed, primarily tobacco retailers and convenience stores across Melbourne and regional Victoria.[4][20]
In Coburg, a fire destroyed part of a convenience store and caused collateral damage to an adjacent nightclub, including $15,000 worth of DJ equipment.[21]
In Fawkner, an arson attack on a smoke shop resulted in heavy damage to neighboring businesses, including a family-owned cake shop.[22]
In January 2025, a residence was firebombed in Melbourne, which ended up being a case of mistaken identity. A 27-year-old woman named Katie Tangey was killed in the house fire in Truganina.[20][13][2]
In July 2026, a tobacco shop in Victoria Street in Richmond was ram raided and set alight, destroying the shop and damaging ten neighbouring shops.[23][24]
See also
References
- ↑ Vedelago, Chris; Pascual Juanola, Marta; Pearson, Erin (8 July 2024). "Prosecution witness in Melbourne's tobacco war allegedly firebombed into silence". The Age. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- 1 2 Darling, Alexander; Pascual Juanola, Marta (3 April 2025). "Breakthrough in tobacco war firebombing that killed Katie Tangey". The Age. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Detectives from Taskforce Lunar investigate Springvale fire". Victoria Police (Press release). 9 January 2025. Archived from the original on 9 January 2025.
- 1 2 "No end in sight for illegal tobacco wars as police reach milestone". 9News. March 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "How a turf war over illegal tobacco sparked a wave of firebombings across Melbourne". The Age. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "Illicit Tobacco". Australian Border Force. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 Bucci, Nino (2024-11-01). "Burning out: how Australia's bid to cut smoking rates exploded into suburban tobacco wars". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- 1 2 "Australia's illicit tobacco market – The Cipher Brief". www.thecipherbrief.com. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- 1 2 3 Pascual Juanola, Marta; Vedelago, Chris; Abbott, Lachlan (2025-02-12). "The tobacco war safe-zone where violent gangs are policing themselves". The Age. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ "'Police can't help you': The threat issued to Melbourne's pub and club owners". ABC News. 2026-05-05. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ Silvester, John (2026-05-01). "$500 to firebomb: How crime gangs are outsourcing Melbourne's Bar Wars". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ Smith, Rohan (2026-04-29). "Melbourne fine dining icons hit as bizarre crime wave sweeps city". news.com.au.
- 1 2 Vedelago, Chris; Pascual Juanola, Marta; Eddie, Rachel (2025-02-18). "Death of the first innocent: How the government bungled the tobacco war". The Age. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ Clark, Tamara; Dalton, Tyrone (19 February 2026). "Dimboola gift shop firebombed days after police find illegal cigarettes". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ Ellis, Fergus (9 February 2026). "Kaz syndicate's alleged $250,000 demand after 'disrespect' in Bali bust-up". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ Wilson, Eleanor (30 June 2026). "Ominous note left at convenience store before firebombing attack". Nine.com.au. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ Silvester, John (11 July 2026). "Terrifying efficiency of Big Crime". The Age. Nine Entertainment. p. 46. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Man charged following investigation into tasking of incidents linked to hospitality venues". Victoria Police (Press release). 14 July 2026. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ Silva, Kristian; Boaz, Judd (14 July 2026). "Alleged crime lieutenant at centre of Melbourne's 'bar wars' grins and winks at supporters". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- 1 2 Kim, Victoria (2026-02-15). "How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
- ↑ "Police investigate tobacco store arson attacks in Melbourne's inner north-west". ABC News. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ "Smoke shop in Fawkner set on fire in tobacco wars arson attack". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
- ↑ Meehan, Melissa (5 July 2026). "Tobacco wars explode: 10 shops damaged in latest attack". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
- ↑ Pittorino, Jennifer; Griffiths, Phoebe (6 July 2026). "Richmond shopping strip gutted by fire after car rammed into tobacco store". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 11 July 2026.