Illicit tobacco shops across WA refilled ‘10 times a day’ as cops scramble to clamp down

Illegal tobacco warehouses are being refilled more than 10 times a day by organized crime gangs, making it difficult for authorities to control, Western Australia’s top cop says.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said even when stores were firebombed, organized crime groups restocked supplies as authorities seized illegal items from retailers.

“The business model of organized crime is to resupply stores 10 or more times a day,” Mr Blanch told ABC Perth on Wednesday.

“The business model is the knowledge that this is an illegal product, it should not be sold, it is illegal to sell it, and the same can be said for cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

“If the police come and get a search warrant and seize everything there or the healthcare facility, they call the supplier and say ‘take the next lot here’ and we’re on our way again.

“That’s the reason for the shutdown orders, and that’s why we’re asking for the shutdown order, because we need to stop this rapid supply.”

Commissioner Blanch said police were working with health officials to crack down on more illegal tobacco retailers operating in Western Australia.

He warned landlords to consider their insurance in case tenants sell illegal tobacco on their properties.

If a tenant sells illegal tobacco or is aware that it is being sold, landlords may face significant challenges in securing insurance coverage.

Commissioner Blanch also revealed that some landlords in the state’s South West are making business decisions to evict tenants selling illegal tobacco products because they want to protect their assets.

“If I can’t get insurance because of the possibility of arson or a shooting, then I have no recourse when I file an insurance claim, that’s a real risk for homeowners,” he said.

“But at the same time, if I know I own one of these shops and I have a sneaking suspicion, or I know the tenant was selling illegal cigarettes and then firebombed the place, I may not be able to claim.

“If I were that homeowner and I had that doubt, I would call my insurer this afternoon and ask, am I covered in this situation? Is my asset protected?”

The state government recently announced new measures to combat the illegal tobacco trade in Western Australia.

Senior police officer Steve Post has been deployed to help the Department of Health tackle tobacco compliance as part of Operation Maverick.

Twelve people have been charged with 59 offenses since November last year, including fire, burglary, theft and drug offences.

The government is also preparing new laws to curb the sale of illegal tobacco and close shops selling illegal products.

Prime Minister Roger Cook said tobacco bandits must be stopped.

“West Australians must be reassured that new legislation will be introduced to parliament as a priority, but it’s important we get this right,” he said.

“In the meantime, we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade and keep our communities safe.”

Police Minister Reece Whitby said people needed to stop and think about what they were doing.

“Buying cheap packs of cigarettes is financing violent criminals and we all need to stop feeding this illegal market,” he said.

“Illegal tobacco sales fund international serious and organized crime networks which our WA Police Force will continue to target by kicking in doors and making arrests through Task Force Maverick.

“We are committed to keeping the community safe and these extra resources will target criminal networks and protect businesses across the state who try to do the right thing every day.”