Drive-by shooting targets tobacco store amid gang wars

A group of people were inside at the time, but fled before police arrived.

There have been dozens of attacks on tobacco stores over the past 18 months. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

 The shooting comes amid an illegal tobacco turf war in Victoria that has led to more than 70 arson attacks on businesses and more than 80 arrests in the past 18 months.

Police say the fires are linked to a conflict between crime syndicates.

Authorities say attractive profit margins from illicit tobacco sales have created an environment where organised crime groups were aggressively and violently competing for market share.