<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> alcohol factory has erupted in flames amid concerns organised </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/crime" rel="" target="" title="crime"><span>crime</span></a><span> gangs are targeting a new commodity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Keysborough alcohol distribution centre went up in flames around 10:30pm yesterday, completely destroying the building and its contents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are treating the blaze as suspicious, fearing it could be the latest in a string of attacks targeting alcohol.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-and-woman-charged-over-alleged-13-million-dollar-drugs-haul/d9218445-0374-4c36-b198-326daac547c5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Pair charged over $13 million drugs intercept</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is basically, to quote one police officer, it's the illicit tobacco on steroids," crime journalist John Silvester told 3AW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least eight high-profile venues serving alcohol have been torched in 10 days, the first being The Men's Gallery strip club on Lonsdale Street at about 5.45am on April 14.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Albion Bar in South Melbourne was targeted the next morning about 3am, before The Emerson in Prahran and Kittens Strip Club in South Melbourne were simultaneously attacked at 4.20am on April 16.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/keysborough-fire-alcohol-factory-goes-up-in-flames-as-police-piece-together-new-crime-syndicate/16d121a9-c498-476d-bdee-77602fa8bf1c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Men's Gallery was targeted for a second time in a drive-by shooting at 4.10am on April 17, just minutes before Soho in Southbank was set alight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On April 18 Bar Bambi in the CBD was attacked and yesterday two people were arrested with jerry cans outside fine-dining restaurant France-Soir in South Yarra.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/asic-targeting-online-finfluencers-over-financial-advice/56d174d0-6c97-4039-902d-285dd5f7712e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Four 'finfluencers' targeted as warnings issued for TikTok money gurus</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At the moment it's a struggle because they're trying to work out a motive," Silvester said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A new organised crime racket is believed to be behind the spree, 9News can reveal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The gang is believed to be responsible for violent kidnappings and home invasions on employees and promoters linked to these venues, including a bloody attack at a Springvale home on Wednesday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are investigating whether the gang has links to organised crime in the Middle-East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detectives are also looking into whether their objective is to get a stronghold on the booze market through scare tactics and extortion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ndis-changes-what-we-actually-know-about-overhaul-explainer/1d5ac093-7675-4197-9a3b-9950b890e3f0" target="_blank"><strong><span>The NDIS is getting a major overhaul. Here's what we actually know so far</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Youth criminals are reportedly being hired and recruited to execute these firebombings and kidnappings through encrypted apps.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The masterminds reportedly pay teenagers, knowing penalties, if they're caught, will be less severe.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are so many knuckleheads queuing up to light the fires that get paid between $500 and $1000 and they're all getting caught," Silvester said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>