Police investigating a robbery at a Melbourne warehouse have stumbled across more than two tonnes of illicit tobacco and cigarettes.
Officers first arrived at the Altona North business on Thursday to probe a forced entry and theft of tobacco.
When they returned later with a search warrant they found more than than two tonnes of illicit tobacco, more than 340,000 cigarettes, 75,000 cigarette packs and 160 vapes.
An Altona man, 43, and a Point Cook man, 48, were interviewed over the alleged sale of illicit tobacco and released pending further inquiries.
The probe into the burglary that sparked the search continues.
The illicit tobacco trade in Victoria has attracted significant police attention over the past year, with major investigation underway into dozens of arson attacks on tobacco shops linked to an escalating conflict between rival crime syndicates.
It's prompted a crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade with a recent $188.5 million boost to Australian Border Force to disrupt and deter the importation of illegal products, which Treasurer Jim Chalmers says costs the government more than $3 billion in lost revenue every year.
