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January 25, 2026 — 5:34pm
Western Australia’s Department of Health has seized tens of thousands of illegal cigarettes and more than 20 kilograms of loose tobacco in a major crackdown just a week after a police force veteran was appointed as the state’s “tobacco tsar”.
The arrival of Superintendent Steve Post at WA Health’s Tobacco Compliance Unit was announced last week, with the senior officer who played a leading role in WA’s pandemic response sounding a blunt warning to criminals fuelling the illegal tobacco trade: “Get out while you can.”
Now, the department has revealed a joint enforcement effort with WA Police targeting convenience stores, tobacconists and retailers in the state’s South West had resulted in the seizure of 74,670 cigarettes, more than 20 kilograms of tobacco, and $87,940 in cash.
Post warned the Bunbury operation should be considered the new norm for tobacco compliance.
“This is ultimately about keeping the community safe, and ensuring the criminals involved are met with the full force of both the WA Police Force and the Department of Health,” he said.
WA Health’s director of tobacco and vape regulation, Shane Giblett, said the department was working closer with WA Police and bolstering its enforcement efforts to remove illegal tobacco products from circulation.
The department and WA Police are continuing to investigate in relation to potential charges.
Earlier this month, three people were charged by Australian Federal Police over their alleged roles in the distribution of illegal tobacco and vapes following raids on homes, storage units and a tobacconist.
In that instance, about $1 million in cash, five tonnes of tobacco products and almost 30,000 vapes were seized.
New laws to empower WA Police to more easily close stores selling illegal tobacco and vapes, as well as increasing penalties, are currently being drafted ahead of parliament’s return next month.
However, WA Premier Roger Cook has refused to put a timeframe on when they will come into effect.
Post’s appointment followed escalating violence linked to the illegal tobacco trade, with several shops across Perth and even in Bunbury targeted in alleged arson attacks.
