A dispute over black market tobacco has led to a man having his toe cut off in a Sydney warehouse unit, police allege.
Eight men allegedly fled the Condell Park business on Saturday night after a confrontation involving two groups. Police later stopped and arrested two men Ahamad Dudu, 26, and Mohamad Kaddour, 24.
The group had allegedly broken into the storage unit in an effort to steal a supply of tobacco but a confrontation erupted when the unit’s owner’s turned up, reports The Daily Telegraph.
Tobacco has become a popular commodity among organised crime syndicates courtesy of sky high taxes on the product and the government’s recent ban of vapes.
Turf wars in Melbourne have resulted in numerous firebombings of tobacco stores with the incident showing the violence appears to have spread to Sydney.
Dudu applied for bail in Bankstown Local Court on Monday which was told the unit’s alarm had caused three men linked to the unit to turn up amid the break-in, who were then set upon by the group of eight intruders.
The three men were allegedly threatened with weapons, tied up, bashed and one of the men had his toe ‘partially severed’ in the attack which lasted up to half an hour.
Police arrived during the alleged attack and caused the group to flee with the two arrested men allegedly found with gloves and face coverings.
More to follow.
A group of eight men allegedly broke into a Condell Park warehouse unit business (pictured) to steal tobacco but a confrontation erupted when the owners turned up
