Police have raided a dozen suburban tobacco shops with alleged links to organised crime, seizing almost $5 million in illegal cigarettes and vapes.
A total of 14 people were arrested in what investigators say is a targeted operation to deter and dismantle crime groups involved in Victoria's long-running tobacco war.
More than 100 tobacco shops and other businesses have been firebombed during the conflict over multimillion-dollar profits, which also involves attempts to extort individual store owners.
Earlier in April, officers searched 12 businesses they allege have links to two of the organised crime syndicates involved in the conflict.
Close to 700,000 cigarettes, 15,000 vapes and 300kg of loose-leaf tobacco were taken from the businesses located in Melbourne's west, north and inner east on April 7-11.
The shops are in Altona Meadows, Truganina, Craigieburn, Broadmeadows, Tullamarine, Mill Park, Bundoora, Weir Views, Watsonia, Altona North, Prahran and Hawthorn.
Those arrested were interviewed over the possession of tobacco or profits of illegal crime and are expected to be charged at a later date, police said.
In recent months investigators have stepped up efforts to gain information from shop owners, and say they will do whatever it takes to bring down syndicate bosses to end the conflict.
In addition to the shop fires, police say the tobacco war also claimed the life of an innocent young woman, Katie Tangey, who was house-sitting for her brother when the property was mistakenly targeted and set alight in January.
Authorities are now targeting anyone involved in the distribution and sale of illicit tobacco "at any level", Victoria Police Detective Acting Inspector Justin Shields said.
"We have been clear that this is no longer about simply the investigation of the individual incidents - this is about doing absolutely everything we can to deter, disrupt and dismantle these syndicates and those at the helm of them," he said.
"While people's lives remain at risk due to this heightened criminal activity, we will continue to target these organise crime syndicates and do everything we can to hold them accountable."
Victoria is yet to establish a tobacco licensing scheme so regulation falls to councils and the state's health department, while tax office officials and Therapeutic Goods Administration representatives have been involved in the investigation.
Australian Taxation Office Assistant Commissioner Jade Hawkins said the organisation is determined to remove illegal products from the community and create a level playing field for legitimate businesses.
"We'll continue to work with our partners to detect, disrupt and dismantle the organised crime syndicates who are using profits from selling illicit tobacco to fund other serious illegal activities," she said.
"By doing this, it ensures there will be financial and criminal implications for those who are involved."
