A Melbourne alcohol factory has erupted in flames amid concerns organised crime gangs are targeting a new commodity.
The Keysborough alcohol distribution centre went up in flames around 10:30pm yesterday, completely destroying the building and its contents.
Police are treating the blaze as suspicious, fearing it could be the latest in a string of attacks targeting alcohol.
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"It is basically, to quote one police officer, it's the illicit tobacco on steroids," crime journalist John Silvester told 3AW.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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"At the moment it's a struggle because they're trying to work out a motive," Silvester said.
A new organised crime racket is believed to be behind the spree, 9News can reveal.
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.
Police are investigating whether the gang has links to organised crime in the Middle-East.
Detectives are also looking into whether their objective is to get a stronghold on the booze market through scare tactics and extortion.
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Youth criminals are reportedly being hired and recruited to execute these firebombings and kidnappings through encrypted apps.
The masterminds reportedly pay teenagers, knowing penalties, if they're caught, will be less severe.
"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.
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