The Western Australia Police are looking into a suspicious fire that occurred at the Freechoice Mart, a convenience store located on Albany Highway in Kelmscott, Perth. The fire was reported around 3:30 AM, with firefighters from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services quickly responding to extinguish the flames. The store's owner has insisted that he does not sell vapes or cigarettes and has reported receiving threats of arson to the authorities, indicating a troubling pattern of intimidation against small business owners in the area.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has indicated that there is a potential connection between the fire and ongoing issues related to organized crime, particularly concerning the tobacco trade. There are rising concerns about what has been described as 'tobacco wars', wherein legitimate businesses may be targeted by criminal elements seeking to assert control over the distribution and sale of tobacco products. The investigation falls under the purview of Taskforce Maverick, specifically set up to address these organized crime activities linked to the tobacco industry.

This incident underscores a growing trend of violence and intimidation faced by small business owners in WA, reflecting broader concerns about organized crime operating in the shadows of legitimate commerce. The police's actions to investigate and the establishment of Taskforce Maverick signal a commitment to addressing these challenges, but it also highlights the difficulties faced by law enforcement in combatting entrenched criminal networks that target vulnerable businesses. The ongoing investigation will reveal more about the extent of organized crime's impact on the local economy and community safety.