Dhaka, May 7 -- Australia is witnessing a disturbing surge in violent attacks on tobacco retailers, with experts warning that the country's already overwhelmed emergency services could be further burdened if the trend continues.

Queensland has become the latest hotspot, joining states like Victoria and New South Wales, where tobacconists have been targeted in fire-bombings, ram raids, and violent thefts. In Victoria alone, over 100 such attacks have occurred in the last two years. Authorities have linked the assaults to turf wars between organized crime groups battling for control over the booming black-market trade in illegal cigarettes and raw tobacco, commonly known as chop-chop.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland (AMAQ) h...