DETECTIVES from Victoria Police’s Taskforce Lunar have arrested two men in relation to an arson attack on a Cohuna tobacconist earlier this month.
Police last Tuesday executed a search warrant at a home in Tarneit.
A 37-year-old Tarneit man was charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, possession of cannabis, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
He was remanded to appear at Mildura Magistrates’ Court on October 9.
Police said seized items from the Tarneit search included cannabis, a jerry can, a conducted electricity device, and a stolen Mazda CX5 with cloned plates that police planned to allege was used during the offence.
A second search on Friday morning was conducted at residence in Broadmeadows where an Isuzu truck that had allegedly been stolen in Niddrie was seized.
Police arrested a 44-year-old Broadmeadows man who was charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire and three counts of theft of motor vehicle. He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
While nobody was inside the King George Street business in Cohuna when it was set alight about 3am on Sunday, July 7, the store was completely destroyed in the fire.
An allegedly stolen car was driven into the front of the business before it became engulfed in flames and required a large response from local firefighters.
The incident also had a significant impact on surrounding businesses, which lost power and had minor damage to storefronts.
Taskforce Lunar Detective Inspector Graham Banks said those involved in the illegal tobacco trade “will be held to account” and that police “need the community’s help”.
“The estimated cost of the damage from these arson attacks is well and truly above $1 million,” Insp Banks said.
“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.
“While we understand the cost of legal tobacco is high, in purchasing illegal tobacco you are effectively fun-ding 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 its worst, murders.”
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.
