Taskforce Maverick: 19 people, including three teens, charged with 65 offences over illicit tobacco trade

Nearly 20 people — including three teenagers — have been charged over their links to the illicit tobacco trade, as the State Government prepares to bring its long-promised crackdown to Parliament this week. Police on Monday confirmed 19 people had been charged with 65 offences under Taskforce Maverick, which was established in November 2025 following a string of violent attacks — including several drive-by shootings and fire-bombings — targeting businesses linked to the Perth’s black market trade. Among those were a 15-year-old and 17-year-old boy who were allegedly caught planning an attack on a tobacco and convenience store in Rockingham on February 6. The 15-year-old, from Belmont, allegedly fled from police in a stolen Toyota Hilux before he was intercepted in Bibra Lake around midnight. He was charged with 10 offences including two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and two counts of criminal damage and was remanded in custody. The 17-year-old — who was arrested at a home in Queens Park — was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and one count of failing to obey an order given by an officer. The pair will front Perth Children’s Court at a later date. A 23-year-old man, from Clarkson, was also arrested over the alleged attack and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was released on bail and will face Perth Magistrates Court on February 20. Later that day, Serious and Organised Crime detectives seized more than 3.9 million cigarettes, 3900 vapes and 288kg of loose tobacco — a total retail value of about $4.5 million — after raiding a property on Focal Way, in Bayswater. And just days later on February 12, an 18-year-old man was arrested at a property in Gosnells over his alleged involvement in three separate incidents at tobacco stores in Beechboro, Ballajura and Rockingham. He was charged with two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of criminal damage by fire. Bail was refused and he will front court next month. Detective Superintendent Rob Scantlebury, from the serious and organised crime division, said police would be “relentless” in their efforts to shut down illicit operations, and warned those involved would be prosecuted. “Public safety isn’t optional — it’s the standard our community deserves,” he said. “Individuals tempted to engage in acts of violence, damaging property and intimidating others need to decide whether it’s worth the risk of going to jail for 25 years to life over vapes and cigarettes.” It comes after The West Australian revealed the State Government would introduce new legislation this week to stamp out Perth’s growing illicit tobacco trade. Proposed changes to the Tobacco Products Control Act would see WA home to the toughest penalties in the nation, with the maximum fine for possession a large quantity of illicit tobacco set to increase to $4.2 million for an individual or $21 million for a company, and up to 15 years imprisonment. Same-day store closure of 72 hours would require “reasonable suspicion”, while the WA Health Director-General would need to approve any orders to close a store for up to 90 days whilst police investigate. Premier Roger Cook — who is set to announce the new legislation on Monday — denied his government had been slow to act, and said keeping West Australian’s safe was his number one priority. “The changes are in addition to a range of new measures, including our newly expanded compliance unit which has already seen an increase in seizures of illicit products,” he said. “Our Government is committed to continuing to update tobacco control legislation to protect Western Australians from these harmful products and to strengthen enforcement measures.” A WA Police spokesperson said legal loopholes coupled with the growing demand for cheap tobacco meant criminal activity had escalated. “Police have observed an escalation in offending by serious organised crime groups and their associates, who continue to import and supply illicit tobacco products to the domestic market,” the spokesperson said. “Increased consumer demand for cheap cigarettes and e-cigarettes, combined with regulatory gaps in importation and retail controls, has been exploited by these groups who employ violence, intimidation and extortion tactics against competitors and legitimate vendors.”