Taskforce Maverick: WA Police reveal link between Comancheros and alleged tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad

WA Police have revealed a link between one of the nation’s largest outlaw motorcycle gangs and alleged tobacco kingpin Kazem Hamad, after confirming nearly 20 people — including three teenagers — had been charged over their links to the illicit tobacco trade. Police on Monday revealed 19 people had been charged with 65 offences under Taskforce Maverick, which was established in November 2025 following a string of violent attacks targeting businesses linked to Perth’s black market trade. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant David Knight, of the transnational serious organised crime squad, said police had made a “significant link” between the Comancheros and the Hamad syndicate. Mr Hamad and his associates are being investigated by the Australian Federal Police over several firebombings and violent attacks linked to the illicit tobacco trade. The 41-year-old has been dubbed Australia’s illicit tobacco king amid allegations he was involved in importing millions of illegal cigarettes and orchestrating violence associated with their sale across the country. He was arrested in January and is being held in custody in a secret location in Iraq. Det-At. Sen. Sgt. Knight said WA Police were focusing on Middle Eastern organised crime groups who were using “violence, intimidation and extortion tactics against competitors”. “Middle East and organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco trade are operating across Australia, including Western Australia,” he said on Monday. “Their activities, including importation, distribution, arson and extortion, are nationally coordinated, and the domestic supply of illicit tobacco and vapes is widespread.” It comes just days after Comancheros nominee Pirikatea Whaitiri Mckay Wyllie faced Rockingham Magistrates Court after allegedly threatening to firebomb Rockingham Convenience and Tobacco. The prosecutor told the court two men entered the store in a disguise last Wednesday, before telling the person inside to “close the shop now, stop trading, or you’ll get firebombed.” A piece of paper was then handed over, with directions to contact a user named “CHANCE.56” via the Signal app. The interaction was captured on CCTV, with the pair filmed leaving in a white Holden Commodore registered to Mr Wyllie’s partner. Det-Act. Sen. Sgt. Knight said a 15-year-old and 17-year-old boy were among the 19 arrested under Taskforce Maverick, after they were allegedly caught planning an attack on a tobacco and convenience store in Rockingham on February 6. The 15-year-old, from Belmont, allegedly fled from police in a stolen Toyota Hilux before he was intercepted in Bibra Lake around midnight. Shocking police air wing vision shows a vehicle recklessly driving on a median strip before speeding off on the wrong side of the road. The car is then filmed clipping the back of a truck, causing it to lose control and roll several times on a nearby field. The teenager was charged with 10 offences including two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and two counts of criminal damage and was remanded in custody. The 17-year-old — who was arrested at a home in Queens Park — was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and one count of failing to obey an order given by an officer. The pair will front Perth Children’s Court at a later date. A 23-year-old man, from Clarkson, was also arrested over the alleged attack and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was released on bail and will face Perth Magistrates Court on February 20. Det-Act. Sen. Sgt. Knight said crime syndicates were recruiting “anybody they can find that’s dumb enough to be involved” including teenagers as young as 15-years-old. He said offenders were being offered a financial incentive, but said no one had actually been paid for carrying out an attack. “Cash incentives are often promised by organised crime groups for others to carry out their dirty work for them, including acts of violence, damaging property and intimidating others,” he said. “But let me be clear about this, no one has ever been paid — of all those 19 people we’ve charged, they all report they haven’t been paid a cent. “We’ve got dimwitted people doing these offences, and as I’ve said, 15 and 16-year-old’s who are prepared to do it.” Det-Act. Sen. Sgt. Knight also revealed detectives had seized more than 3.9 million cigarettes, 3900 vapes and 288kg of loose tobacco — a total retail value of about $4.5 million — after raiding a warehouse on Focal Way, in Bayswater, on February 6. “There were 18 pellets of cigarettes, there was one pellet of vapes, and there was a pellet of loose tobacco,” he said. “It took three trucks to come in and get it all and then cut it away, which we got through in about three our four hours ... (it was) significant in terms of volume and in value.” And just days later on February 12, an 18-year-old man was arrested at a property in Gosnells over his alleged involvement in three separate incidents at tobacco stores in Beechboro, Ballajura and Rockingham in January. He was charged with two counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, one count of aggravated burglary and one count of criminal damage by fire. Bail was refused and he will front court next month. Det-Act. Sen. Sgt. Knight said police had seized a total of about eight million cigarettes and 29,000 vapes under Taskforce Maverick, and urged retailers to do the right thing and only sell legal tobacco. “If you’re going to be selling illicit tobacco or you’re going to be selling vapes, you’re putting yourself in crosshairs,” he said. “Don’t do the wrong thing ... don’t get involved, and it won’t be a problem for you.” Detective Superintendent Rob Scantlebury, from the serious and organised crime division, said police would be “relentless” in their efforts to shut down illicit operations, and warned those involved would be prosecuted. “Public safety isn’t optional — it’s the standard our community deserves,” he said. “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 25 years to life over vapes and cigarettes.” It comes after The West Australian revealed the State Government would introduce new legislation this week to stamp out Perth’s growing illicit tobacco trade. Proposed changes to the Tobacco Products Control Act would see WA home to the toughest penalties in the nation, with the maximum fine for possession a large quantity of illicit tobacco set to increase to $4.2 million for an individual or $21 million for a company, and up to 15 years imprisonment. Same-day store closure of 72 hours would require “reasonable suspicion”, while the WA Health Director-General would need to approve any orders to close a store for up to 90 days whilst police investigate. Premier Roger Cook — who is set to announce the new legislation on Monday — denied his government had been slow to act, and said keeping West Australian’s safe was his number one priority. “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,” he said. “Our Government is committed to continuing to update tobacco control legislation to protect Western Australians from these harmful products and to strengthen enforcement measures.” A WA Police spokesperson said legal loopholes coupled with the growing demand for cheap tobacco meant criminal activity had escalated. “Police have observed an escalation in offending by serious organised crime groups and their associates, who continue to import and supply illicit tobacco products to the domestic market,” the spokesperson said. “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.”