Taskforce Maverick: 11 people charged with 51 offences as pressure mounts on WA government to introduce laws

A detective investigating shootings and firebombings linked to WA’s illicit tobacco trade says criminal syndicates don’t appear to be paying alleged “low-level criminals” to carry out their dirty work. Several investigations into shootings and arson attacks around the State are being investigated by WA Police’s Serious and Organised Division under Taskforce Maverick, which was established in November last year following a spate of violence targeting businesses linked to the illicit tobacco trade. A press conference held on Monday, in which WA Police revealed 11 people had been hit with 51 offences as part of the taskforce, came as pressure continues to fall on the State Government to introduce tougher laws which would see shopfronts peddling illicit smokes and vapes shutdown for extended periods. Currently the enforcement of the sale of such products does not sit with police but instead with the department’s compliance officers, who only hold powers to issue fines and not shutdown stores — a deterrent the opposition and experts claim isn’t working and creates a vacuum for criminals to capitalise on. The West Australian on Monday revealed the department had completed the lowest number of compliance checks on stores for several years in 2025, despite the growing number of violent attacks linked to the trade causing WA Police to establish a dedicated taskforce. Det. Sen-Sgt Ryan McGuggon, on Monday, said alleged offenders were getting paid “zero dollars” to carry out extortion on business after being recruited by criminal syndicates. “Since the commencement of this taskforce, we have charged a total of 11 people with 51 charges,” he said. “These charges include criminal damage by fire, criminal damage, burglary, stealing, traffic offences and drug offences “Our investigators have established that in every case, every person we have charged, they’ve been paid the grand total of nothing. “What I can say is that each of these alleged low level criminals were promised payment that never eventuated to commit serious offences, of which these offences carry serious penalties. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that getting paid $0 to go to jail for a very long time is not a very good deal.” Det. Sen-Sgt McGuggon was adamant the taskforce was well resourced as several offenders remain outstanding. “The criminal syndicates that use these stand over attack tactics have no honour,” he said. “The message to those that would be tempted to work for them is clear, they won’t pay you, and we will find you and arrest you.” “My position and my team’s position is that we are there to investigate crimes that are conducted around that illicit tobacco, in terms of illicit tobacco itself . . that’s a question and a topic that I’m I can’t provide any commentary about. “While the Department of Health regulates the illicit tobacco in Western Australia, WA Police will act when criminal conduct linked to the trade has been identified or reported, or that we uncover. “We’ll be relentless in our pursuit of persons responsible and organised crime that are operating in this space.” Police recently charged a 14-year-old boy, who remains behind bars, amid allegations he set fire to a Baldivis convenience store in December after being recruited by organised crime figures. A beauty salon in Bunbury was tragically destroyed in a fire in early January after a neighbouring convenience store was firebombed. Taskforce Maverick are investigating the fire and urge anyone with information to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online. Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia passed similar laws last year that give authorities the powers to issue larger fines and forcibly shut retailers down when caught selling prohibited products. A WA Government spokesperson previously said new laws would be introduced to Parliament as soon as they were ready. “We believe the new legislation will be the toughest in the country,” the spokesperson said. The West Australian has visited multiple smoke shops, including in Perth’s entertainment precinct, who brazenly disregard laws and continue to sell prohibited products — often smuggled into the country to avoid the Federal Government’s tobacco excise.