WA news LIVE: WA announces tough new laws to stamp out ‘tobacco thugs’

To crime news now, but sticking with the topic of illicit tobacco, and WA Police have announced they have charged 19 people with a total of 65 offences through Taskforce Maverick – set up to stop the supply of illicit tobacco and vapes.

Police have released a statement revealing they have observed an escalation in offending by organised crime groups who import and sell the products.

“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,” their statement read.

Most recently, Taskforce Maverick have charged several individuals regarding their alleged involvement in the planning of an attack on a tobacco and convenience store in Rockingham,

In a separate incident, on February 6, detectives attended a unit on Focal Way in Bayswater and seized more than 3.9 million cigarettes, 3900 vapes and 288 kilograms of loose tobacco – one of the largest seizures to date in WA.

The total retail value of these items was approximately $4.5 million dollars.

Serious and Organised Crime Squad Detective Superintendent Rob Scantlebury said police would be “relentless in our efforts to shut these operations down and hold those involved accountable by putting them before the courts”.

“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 twenty-five years to life over vapes and cigarettes,” he said.

To breaking news first up, the state government has announced new laws aimed at stamping out the illicit tobacco and vape trade, on the first sitting day of Parliament for 2026.

Under the proposed changes to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006, the maximum penalty for possession of a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco and vaping products will be $4.2 million for an individual or $21 million for a company, and 15 years imprisonment.

Store closure orders of up to 90 days will also be introduced, meaning businesses supplying illegal products will not be able to operate while investigations take place.

The changes will mean WA has some of the strongest penalties in Australia.

Premier Roger Cook has said these new laws are aimed at stopping “tobacco thugs”.

“New legislation being introduced this week will help crush the dangerous illegal tobacco and vape trade – and drive criminals out of business,” he said.

“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.”

Police Minister Reece Whitby said over the summer, multiple WA businesses selling tobacco had been targeted by organised crime networks.

“Police have seen the impact of the illicit tobacco trade, and these tougher laws will help disrupt this criminal activity,” he said.

“These new laws that will give both the Department of Health and WA Police additional powers to shut down illegal shops and increase penalties for those who break the law.”

Here’s what’s making headlines today:

• One Nation has drawn level with the Coalition for the first time, setting up a fierce battle for Australia’s conservative vote and making clear the enormous challenge confronting newly installed Liberal leader Angus Taylor.

• The United States Navy is preparing for a significant shift in its plans that could reduce its reliance on Virginia-class attack submarines, potentially making it easier for Australia to acquire the vessels as planned under the AUKUS agreement.
• Treasurer Jim Chalmers is being urged by the International Monetary Fund to use his May budget to embrace far-reaching tax reform, including an increase in the GST, overhauling the capital gains tax and cutting company tax to lift living standards and get the economy growing faster.

• CCTV footage has captured the moment an 85-year-old was abducted from his northern Sydney home on Friday morning, as the kidnapping suspected to be a case of mistaken identity enters its fourth day.

• Claims that Coles misled shoppers with “illusory” discounts on a range of household goods will be tested in the Federal Court this week as the competition watchdog and the supermarket giant square off in a blockbuster case over pricing promotions.

Good morning all, and welcome back to another week of live blogging.

Making news this morning, reporter Hannah Murphy has taken a look at one of WA’s cold cases – the murder of Gwen Graham – which has been sitting with WA Police’s cold case unit for more than 50 years.

Graham had been sitting at a Balga pub, drinking and chatting to other patrons back in the 1970s, but as midnight approached it was clear she’d had a bit too much.

She tottered into the car park with two beer bottles in a brown paper bag clutched in her hands to wait for her lift.

Police have never been able to say for certain if she got into a taxi that night. But they can say her body turned up nine days later.

Read more here.

In other news, former grand slam doubles champion and Olympic medallist Alicia Molik has been picked as 9News Perth’s new sports presenter following the departure of Fremantle Dockers great Matthew Pavlich.

And, in case you missed in on Sunday, the state government will introduce new laws to Parliament this week that aim to give WA Police the power to refuse a permit to protest if it is considered likely to promote hate.

According to the state government, the proposed bill aims to strike a balance between the right to protest while targeting behaviour including harassment, violence and intimidation.

Read more here.

Stay with us as more news breaks.