Kidnapped tobacconist charged over black market cigarette empire

Bilal Bou-Melhem, 54, has been charged after a kidnapping in February. Police say he ran an illegal tobacco operation with 250 kilograms of cigarettes and replica weapons.

Why it mattersThe case shows how criminals operate openly in Sydney suburbs and the scale of the black market for smokes. It also shows how crime networks keep working even when members are locked up.