Detectives from Taskforce Lunar have arrested two men this week following an arson attack at a tobacco store in Cohuna earlier this month.
A search warrant was executed at a residential address in Tarneit on Tuesday, 16 July.
A 37-year-old Tarneit man was charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire, two counts of theft of motor vehicle, theft, theft from motor vehicle, possess cannabis, possess prohibited weapon and fail to provide pin.
He was remanded to appear at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on 9 October.
A stolen Mazda CX5 with cloned plates which police will allege was utilised during the offence, a jerry can, a small amount of cannabis, a conducted electricity device and a small amount of cash were seized from his address.
A second warrant was executed this morning at a residential address in Broadmeadows.
A 44-year-old Broadmeadows man was arrested this afternoon and will now be interviewed by police.
An Isuzu truck, stolen from a Niddrie address earlier this month, was seized from his address.
The charges follow an incident on Sunday 7 July, when a car was driven into a King George Street business in Cohuna around 3am before it was set alight.
Nobody was inside the premises at the time but the building was completely destroyed and the incident had significant impact on neighbouring businesses not related to the one targeted.
Anyone with information on illegal activity related to illicit tobacco is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Graham Banks, Taskforce Lunar:
“The estimated cost of the damage from these arson attacks is well and truly above a million dollars.
“Since Taskforce Lunar was established last October, we have arrested over 70 people involved in serious and violent offending linked to the illicit tobacco trade, and we will continue to do so.
“You will be targeted, and you will be held to account.
“But we also need the community’s help. While we understand the cost of legal tobacco is high, in purchasing illegal tobacco you are effectively funding organised crime – that money will be used in serious and violent offending such as firearms incidents, extortions, arsons, illicit drug manufacture and trafficking, and at it’s worst, murders.
