Freechoice Mart in Kelmscott set alight days after arson threats as police investigate tobacco wars link

The owner of a Kelmscott convenience store which was targeted in an arson attack linked to the illicit tobacco trade has admitted he failed to take warnings from detectives seriously. Ahmed Jarrar arrived at his business, Freechoice Mart, in Kelmscott to discover his store had been severely damaged on Tuesday morning. It is understood police believe a car was used to create an entry point to the shop before fuel was poured inside the store and set alight about 3.30am. Detectives from Taskforce Maverick are treating the incident as being linked to the sale and distribution of illicit tobacco. Mr Jarrar claimed two men previously arrived at his store last Friday afternoon threatening to burn down the shop he opened just weeks ago, unless he shut it down. “I don’t know what’s wrong with these people. . . they don’t like me to be here,” he said. “They came and they covered themselves, they start recording a video while talking. . . . he was saying, ‘you have to shut your shop down, otherwise we’re going to burn it out’. “I didn’t take it that seriously.” It is understood police made multiple attempts to warn Mr Jarrar about the threats posed by organised crime groups, including by visiting his store a day before the threat and by calling him on Monday — just one day before the arson attack. “The day before the guys came and threatened me, (two detectives) came and they they told me about all of this happening in WA. “(A detective) tried to call me yesterday, but I didn’t answer the phone — I think I made a mistake when I didn’t answer the phone yesterday.” “I was really busy, and that’s (why I didn’t) call him back.” Mr Jazzar said his store was assessed by the Department of Health’s compliance officers for any illicit products within the first week of opening. “They found (some cigarettes and vapes) in my car, but that’s (for) my personal use, you know, and I’m still just trying to apply (for a tobacco license). “I haven’t (sold) anything (like this) in the shop.” Mr Jazzar said he wanted to “run away” as a result of the arson attack. “I’m going to be happy if they catch them, because we have to stop this — It’s really, really scary.” “It took a long time for me, maybe more than six months to (start the business), and I got a loan from my family, my friends, and I’m really in trouble now.” Mr Jarrar said he opened the small business after Christmas. A WA Police spokeswoman said arson investigators were making preliminary inquiries into the incident. It is understood the investigation currently sits with Taskforce Maverick — which was formed to probe organised crime linked to the illicit tobacco trade. Shadow police minister Adam Hort called on the Premier to introduce legislation on the first day of Parliament to empower police and WA Health to shut down illicit tobacco stores. “If we have the legislation in place to put a stranglehold on those doing the wrong thing then we won’t see innocent tobacconists and we won’t see illegal tobacconists being targeted with fire bombings,” he said. “As a result, we won’t see the small businesses impacted around them.” Emergency services were called to the Albany Highway store about 3.30am following reports of a fire, with firefighters managing to control the blaze a short time later. The latest shop fire came as South West police managed to close down five convenience stores after landlords were told they were at risk of being unable to claim insurance payouts after an arson attack — a growing crime-type in WA following the infiltration of associates of eastern states crime families. Supt Paul van Noort urged all property owners and investors to “remain vigilant” about what their tenants were selling as they may be unable to claim compensation after an arson attack if illicit products were sold at a given store. The West Australian does not suggest the store involved in Tuesday’s incident committed any offences. The Cook Government has been drafting tougher legislation to give compliance staff powers to close down stores caught selling illicit products, similar to the laws already in force in other States. Detectives urge anyone with any information or vision relating to this incident to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.