Carreras Limited - Tobacco trafficking
When consumers light up smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes, keen to save money, they may be unwittingly helping to fund international organised crime and terrorists.
This is just one serious problem associated with the trade in illicit tobacco – a trade which is already a global problem and set to grow.
We fully support regulators, governments and international organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, World Health Organisation and European Union in seeking to eliminate all forms of illicit tobacco trade. We would like to see our market free of it.
The black market is driven by ever higher tobacco taxes, particularly when taxes and therefore prices in neighbouring countries are much lower. Weak criminal penalties, poor border controls, low arrest rates and corruption in some parts of the world add to the problem.
We see it as vitally important that the government establish workable tax regimes and economic policies that do not create conditions that encourage illicit trade, with strong border controls and effective laws to combat it.
Crime and reward
Illicit trade is not just the work of small operators. Organised crime is increasingly dominant. The rewards can be high. Just one shipping container full of trafficked cigarettes could earn a criminal gang more than US$1 million.
Interpol, the international police organisation, says gangs that traffic drugs, arms and people are also behind the illicit cigarette and alcohol trade. The US Department of Justice says some also have ties to terrorist organisations.
How we tackle illicit trade
Tackling illicit trade requires co-operation and understanding between legitimate tobacco companies, governments and organisations such as the World Customs Organisation, World Trade Organisation and World Health Organisation.