Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad are investigating a suspicious fire at a business in Oakleigh this morning.
Emergency services were called to the property on Station Street to reports a car had been driven into a store and set alight about 2am on Thursday, 21 September.
No one was present inside the business at the time of the fire, but the building was destroyed.
The fire has been deemed suspicious and an arson chemist is in attendance at the scene.
This is the second fire in this street this month, following a previous incident on Wednesday, 6 September.
Detectives are appealing for anyone in the area who may have CCTV or dash cam footage of the incident.
The investigation into the fire remains ongoing and at this time, police believe it is likely to be connected to a recent series of arson attacks.
Detectives from a range of Crime Command units including the Arson and Explosives Squad, Echo Taskforce and VIPER Taskforce are investigating the series which is believed to be linked to the illicit tobacco trade in Victoria.
Police are also working closely with a range of state and federal agencies including the ABF and AFP as part of this investigation in order to disrupt the syndicates involved and hold those responsible for this offending to account.
Over the past few weeks, police have visited over 75 tobacco stores across Victoria in conjunction with the ABF to speak to store owners and staff and we will also be conducting reassurance patrols in the areas around affected stores.
The community, particularly tobacco store owners and staff, are a crucial part of our ability to stop these incidents before innocent people are killed or seriously injured.
Quotes attributable to Detective Acting Inspector Mark Kennedy, Arson and Explosives Squad:
"Make no mistake - these criminal syndicates and their associated offending linked to illicit tobacco has the complete attention of police and we will do everything we can to bring this to an end and hold those responsible to account.
"We believe we know who the main players are in these syndicates and we are doing everything we can to target them.
"While we have arrested a number of people already, we will relentlessly keep working our way up until we get all the way to the top of these organised crime groups. This behaviour will not be tolerated."
We urge anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
