Victorian tobacco shop owners are being given an ultimatum — pay a $1000-a-week tax to criminal syndicates or have your shop burnt down.

A convenience store in Hadfield this morning appears to be the latest shop targeted. Arson chemists are on the scene investigating.

Press PLAY below to hear what happened in Hadfield this morning

The Age reports at least a dozen shops have been targeted, and a source has told the newspaper independent tobacco shops across the state are being extorted by criminal syndicates, with Middle Eastern organised crime gangs and bikies fighting for control of the lucrative market.

Press PLAY below to find out more about the extraordinary gangland tobacco shop cartel

The Age reporter Marta Pascual Juanola says shops as far away as Wangaratta and Wodonga have been torched.

“It’s pretty widespread,” she told Ross and Russel.

Four people have been charged as part of a police investigation into the string of tobacco and vape store arson attacks and an investigation by Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force is ongoing.

Police investigating multiple arson attacks at a Moonee Ponds tobacco store

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