- Cook Government announces raft of measures to help stamp out illegal tobacco trade
- Strengthened team to crack down on dodgy operators and keep the community safe
- Existing inspection capacity expanded with senior police superintendent deployed to Department of Health
- Retired police officers invited to use their knowledge to boost compliance
The Cook Government has unveiled a range of new measures to help crack down on the illegal tobacco trade and help keep the community safe.
In recognition of the increasing complexity of illegal tobacco investigations and links to organised crime, a new approach will be put in place to boost capability both now and in preparation of enforcement of updated legislation.
Under the new measures, Superintendent Steve Post, a senior WA Police Officer with four decades of police experience who played a leading role in Operation Tide during the pandemic, will be deployed to provide leadership to the Department of Health's tobacco compliance operations.
Additional staff will also be deployed to the Tobacco Compliance Unit to assist, more than doubling inspector capacity.
As part of the new measures, there will be an opportunity for both current officers and those who have recently left the force to join Department of Health and use their knowledge to help with tobacco compliance and supporting Operation Maverick.
Since Operation Maverick was established in November 2025, WA Police have charged 12 people with 59 offences including criminal damage by fire, criminal damage, burglary, stealing and drug offences.
Changes to theTobacco Products Control Actare currently being drafted. These amendments will ensure Western Australia has among the strongest penalties in Australia for the sale of illicit tobacco, as well as allowing for the closure of stores caught selling these products.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"I have made my position clear - these tobacco thugs must be stopped.
"Make no mistake about it, we are dealing with organised crime, and it requires a considered, whole-of-government response.
"Keeping the community safe is our priority - and that includes the staff and inspectors who are working to ensure compliance, as well as protecting the next generation from taking up smoking.
"That's why we're strengthening our team of compliance officers by utilising the considerable expertise of WA Police.
"Western Australians should be reassured that new legislation will be introduced to Parliament as a priority - but it's important we get it right.
"In the meantime, we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt the illegal tobacco trade and keep the community safe."
As stated by Police Minister Reece Whitby:
"Western Australians need to stop and think about what they are doing buying cheap packets of smokes is funding violent criminals, and we all need to stop feeding this illicit market.
"The deployment of Superintendent Steve Post, a senior WA Police Officer, into the Health Department ensures enforcement action will be a co-ordinated and whole-of-government response that will be relentless against illicit tobacco operators.
"The sale of illicit tobacco is funding international serious and organised crime networks that our WA Police Force will continue to target by kicking in doors and making arrests through Taskforce Maverick.
"We're committed to keeping the community safe and these extra resources will target criminal networks and protect businesses trying to do the right thing every day across the State."
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"Our dedicated health enforcement officers have been working hard to protect Western Australians and get these harmful products out of our shops.
"The nature of this reprehensible trade is changing rapidly, and we need to support our enforcement team to respond accordingly while we draft new laws to stamp out this dangerous criminal activity.
"That means expanding our intelligence and enforcement capacity and boosting resources on the ground to perform more inspections right across the State.
"This is about putting the health and safety of Western Australians first."
