Police have released footage showing the moment a 22-year-old man was arrested during the raid of a Crestmead home.
The raid was in response to an alleged arson attack of a tobacconist in Mount Isa.
Police allege that multiple people broke into a shop in the Mount Isa CBD at around 2.20am on 14 August and “doused the building with flammable liquid before setting it on fire”.
“Investigations… identified three teenagers who police will allege are responsible for the arson attack,” police said in a statement.
The three boys, two aged 16 and one aged 17, were charged with one count each of arson and enter premises with intent.
Further investigations by Taskforce Masher, a specialist Queensland Police Service taskforce targeting organised crime syndicates behind the illicit tobacco trade, identified a fourth person allegedly involved in the coordination of the alleged attack.
Footage of the search warrant can be seen below.
“Detectives executed a search warrant yesterday in Crestmead which led to a 22-year-old man being charged with one count each of arson and enter premises with intent,” police said.
Investigations are continuing.
Detective Acting Superintendent David Briese, from the drug and serious crime group, said Taskforce Masher was established to combat the growing risk of serious and organised crime and harm to the community borne from the illicit tobacco market.
“Detectives, partner state agencies such as Queensland Health, and interstate policing jurisdictions work together to identify, investigate and disrupt criminal entities and organisations who seek to commit serious crime and put the community at risk,” he said.
“There are issues around the country with deliberate acts targeting tobacco shops and we are working closely with our counterparts to target those criminal organisations who are working across state borders.
“We are actively working closely with NSW Police Force to identify those responsible for recent arsons of tobacco shops in West End, and Ballina in north coast NSW.
“Our focus is to keep the community safe, and we will continue to monitor organised crime groups and any links between arson, attempted arson attacks and related offending on tobacco stores in Queensland.”
