Craigieburn drive-by shooting linked to Melbourne’s tobacco war

A man shot dead in Melbourne’s north on Saturday afternoon has been named as Robert Issa.

Victoria Police said on Sunday that the killing was linked to a raging crime war on the illegal tobacco trade across the state.

Issa, 27, was shot dead in a bullet-riddled luxury Mercedes SUV, while another man, 28, was seriously injured at Craigieburn Central shopping centre.

Four hooded gunmen remain on the run after targeting the couple as they sat in their car in Windrock Avenue at around 3pm on Saturday.

The deceased is believed to have been close to a figure connected to the cartel and was involved in Melbourne’s underworld, Herald Sun reported.

A man shot dead in Melbourne’s north on Saturday afternoon has been named as an associate of Comanchero Robert Issa (pictured)

The attackers fled the scene in a luxury SUV and police are investigating whether a black Range Rover Sport, which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack.

One of the offenders may have suffered burns when the car was set on fire, Victoria Police Crime Command Commander Paul O’Halloran said.

The suspects are still on the run, while the police are looking for information about their location and identity.

After removing and setting fire to a second vehicle, the attackers drove into another car near Hammersley Court, Reservoir.

Commander O’Halloran asked for the public’s help in catching the suspected killers.

“It was a busy location, (with) cars in the vicinity, people in the area and we are appealing for any information, witnesses and camera (footage) that would be vital to progressing this investigation,” he said.

The killing is believed to be the latest act in a crime war to control the illegal tobacco trade, which has also seen a number of homes and businesses bombed in recent months.

“A significant investigation has been underway into a series of incidents over the past six months involving organized crime groups involved in the importation and sale of illegal tobacco into the state of Victoria,” Anti-Gangs Superintendent Jason Kelly said. .

“Police believe the current situation is due to competing organized crime entities who are in conflict over the illegal tobacco trade here in Victoria and Australia more broadly.”

Groups involved in the conflict include Middle Eastern organized crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Issa was reportedly targeted on another trip to Craigieburn last month, where attackers sprayed his parents’ home with bullets as they slept inside.

His parents are not accused of any wrongdoing, nor is there any suggestion that they had any knowledge of their son’s activities.

Mr Issa, 27, was shot dead in a bullet-riddled luxury Mercedes SUV (pictured) while another man, 28, was seriously injured at Craigieburn Central shopping center

The attackers fled the scene in a luxury SUV and police are investigating whether a black Range Rover Sport (pictured), which was later found burnt out, is linked to the attack.

Police say the battle to control Melbourne’s illegal tobacco trade is linked to the latest gangland executions. The photo shows a scene from the aftermath of the shooting

“What we are seeing here are targeted attacks between criminals,” said Commander O’Halloran, adding that police were concerned about a further escalation of violence.

“Melbourne and Victoria is a very safe place … however I understand and Victoria Police understands that these are very disturbing and upsetting for people who have seen these incidents recently.”

Fitness worker Veronica Estimova, who works at the Elevate 24:7 fitness gym in Craigieburn Central, said she heard ‘hard bangs’.

“It was very scary, we didn’t know what was happening,” she said.

“A group of people ran into the gym and said there had been a drive-by shooting, they said they saw a young man lying on the ground.”

The brazen attack came exactly four weeks after notorious crime figure Gavin ‘Capable’ Preston was gunned down outside a cafe.

Preston, who was hit by bullets while having breakfast with his ex-husband Nabil ‘Mad Lebo’ Maghnie’s son in Keilor, north-west of Melbourne.

Abbas Maghnie Jr, known as AJ, was shot in the stomach while running from Preston’s executioner in a cafe on September 8, but managed to survive.

The masked killer and his getaway driver were said to have parked in front of the scene for three hours before the deadly ambush.

Preston, 50, was hit by 10 bullets during the shooting at Sweet Lulus Cafe.

A chilling 40-second video of the killing showed a hooded man in black running towards the cafe’s outdoor seating area and firing at Preston.

Terrified residents threw themselves to the ground and covered their faces as the notorious criminal took his seat and fell to the ground beside his table.

As the gunman left, two women checked each other for injuries before grabbing their bags and fleeing the cafe.

Two men then cautiously approached Preston, who was motionless next to the table where he had only seconds before eaten breakfast.

Preston’s distraught fiancee Lauran Howe had to be restrained by officers after she arrived at the cafe after the shooting.

Underworld figure Gavin ‘Capable’ Preston was shot dead at Sweet Lulus Cafe in Keilor Village in Melbourne’s north-west in September.

“He’s my husband,” she was heard shouting as she struggled to get through the police tape surrounding the stage for the audience.

Ms Howe eventually had to be led away by officers with another man, also known to Preston, also pinned to the ground by officers.

It is believed that the suspected perpetrators left the scene in a black Audi Q5. Two burned-out cars were found after the shooting, including one just 500 meters from the scene.

The luxury SUV was found abandoned in nearby Blair Court before the gunmen fled in a second car.