A firebombing incident occurred overnight at a gift shop in the small town of Dimboola, located in western Victoria. This event took place shortly after police raided the shop, discovering over 36,000 illegal cigarettes. Emergency services responded to the suspicious fire early in the morning, but fortunately, no one was present in the store at the time.

The police are currently investigating the firebombing and its potential connection to ongoing illegal tobacco activities in the region. The raid conducted last Friday resulted in the seizure of 36,840 illegal cigarettes and loose-leaf tobacco, leading to the arrest of a local 22-year-old man. He faces charges related to possessing tobacco products intended to defraud tax revenue but has since been released on summons, indicating that the police are taking this illegal trade seriously.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are examining whether the firebombing is a retaliatory act linked to the state’s “tobacco wars.” With the illegal tobacco trade being a growing concern in Victoria, this incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing such activities and ensuring public safety in small towns like Dimboola.