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Up to 660 billion cigarettes worldwide are estimated to pass through the hands of smugglers, counterfeiters and local tax evaders every year. In packs of 20 laid end to end, the cigarettes would circle Earth more than 60 times or stretch to the moon and back almost four times.
British American Tobacco supports a new World Health Organisation (WHO) treaty being debated this week in Geneva - the Protocol on Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products - which aims to combat the problem through stronger international co-ordination and enforcement. The Protocol acknowledges that legitimate tobacco industry interests are damaged by illicit trade along with those of governments.
Ceylon Tobacco Company’s spokesperson, said: "Cigarettes must be one of the world’s most smuggled legal products. This treaty can give governments the opportunity to hit the bad guys hard - and it’s vital that they do.
"Organised crime is increasingly dominating tobacco smuggling. Weapons, drugs and people traffickers are attracted by the high profits – with only minor fines or suspended jail sentences if they’re caught."
Just one 40 foot container with 8.5 million cigarettes, smuggled into Sri Lanka and sold at the retail price, would result in a loss of Rs. 114. 75 Million to the Sri lankan Government. During the first 6 months of this year, 50 Million Cigarettes have been confiscated by the Authorities, saving Rs. 675 Million Government Revenue.
