A highly decorated Western Australian police officer, with a formidable reputation from the state's 'tobacco wars' of the 1990s, has been appointed to lead a renewed and aggressive crackdown on the booming illegal tobacco trade.
A Veteran Returns to the Front Line
Detective Senior Sergeant Gareth Meyer, a 31-year veteran of the force, has taken the helm of the newly established Illicit Tobacco Team within the Organised Crime Division. His appointment is a strategic move by WA Police, drawing on his deep experience from a period when criminal gangs violently fought for control of the lucrative illegal cigarette market.
Sen. Sgt Meyer's history is marked by significant success. He was a key figure in the conviction of notorious crime figure John Kizon on tax evasion charges related to tobacco in 1998. Furthermore, his investigative work was instrumental in the seizure of a massive 22-tonne haul of illegal tobacco in 1997, a record at the time.
The veteran detective acknowledges the landscape has changed, with violence less overt but the financial scale of the crime potentially greater. "The difference between then and now is it's not as overtly violent," Sen. Sgt Meyer stated. However, he emphasised that the illegal tobacco trade remains a primary funding stream for organised criminal networks operating within the state.
Building a New Team with Experienced Hands
A central and innovative part of the new strategy involves a direct appeal to former officers. WA Police are actively looking to lure retired police back into the fold on short-term contracts to supplement the Illicit Tobacco Team. The goal is to tap into a wealth of institutional knowledge and investigative experience that has left the force.
"We've lost a lot of experience," Sen. Sgt Meyer explained, highlighting a gap this initiative aims to fill. The plan is to bring these experienced retirees on board for three to six-month contracts, providing crucial support and mentoring to less experienced team members while adding immediate operational capacity.
The team's mission is clear: to disrupt and dismantle the sophisticated supply chains bringing illegal tobacco into WA. This includes targeting every level, from the importation and distribution networks right down to the retail shops, often small convenience stores or 'tobacconists', that sell the illicit product.
The Scale of the Problem and the Path Forward
The illegal tobacco market in Australia is a multi-billion dollar problem, costing the federal government vast sums in lost tax revenue. In WA, authorities have already conducted significant operations, including raids on 17 Perth shops in a single day last year, resulting in numerous charges.
Sen. Sgt Meyer's team will work closely with federal agencies like the Australian Taxation Office and Australian Border Force. Their focus will be on complex, long-term investigations designed to target the masterminds and the financial infrastructure behind the trade, rather than just low-level sellers.
The return of a 'tobacco war' veteran to lead this charge sends a strong message about the seriousness with which WA Police are treating the issue. By combining fresh tactics with proven experience, including the unique plan to reintegrate retired officers, the force hopes to strike a decisive blow against the organised crime groups profiting from this illicit market.
