Children as young as 14 have allegedly been recruited into Victoria’s unrelenting tobacco war, with four teenagers arrested over a series of arson attacks.
Police arrested a 15-year-old Springvale boy, 14-year-old Mulgrave boy, 16-year-old Mulgrave girl and 16-year-old Pakenham girl in simultaneous home raids early on Friday.
They will be interviewed over an aggravated burglary in Wonga Park, along with an attempted arson attack at a Mill Park restaurant and the torching of a tobacconist in Ballarat.
Police say a white Isuzu D-Max and silver Ford Ranger were stolen from a home at Wonga Park in Melbourne’s outer north-east overnight between 19 and 20 February.
The Ford Ranger was then used in a firebombing on the Emerald Reception Centre in Thomastown on 22 February, causing millions of dollars in damage, police allege.
The car was found burnt out about 2.5km from the crime scene in Bundoora less than half an hour later.
A 20-year-old St Albans man faced court on Thursday over the attack after being charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, theft of motor vehicle and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Police allege the other ute was involved in an attempted arson at a Mill Park restaurant in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
They claim it reversed towards the front door of the venue and several occupants exited.
The same vehicle was then used the following morning in an arson attack at a tobacconist on Sturt Street in Ballarat, leaving it significantly damaged, police allege.
The ute was later discovered burnt out on Eureka Street.
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Taskforce Lunar is investigating more than 30 fires linked to a conflict between warring crime syndicates over illegal tobacco profits.
Det Insp Graham Banks from the taskforce said police hoped the arrests would provide further avenues of inquiry.
“We’re seeing these syndicates recruit a range of people – including children – to commit incredibly serious and violent offences,” he said in a statement.
“This remains of significant concern for police, and we will do absolutely everything we can to target those involved in this offending at all levels.”