Monthly Archives: October 2014

From: New York Times

LYON, France — Interpol, the international police agency, is considering whether to seek a profit out of fighting crime by using its global database of stolen passports to charge airlines, banks, cruise lines and hotels to screen identity documents.

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The new system is also a way to augment the agency’s annual budget — 81 million euros, or about $103 million, last year for a staff of more than 800. It is currently funded through contributions from 190 member states, including the United States. It also received about $28 million in grants last year from companies like the tobacco giant Philip Morris International, which aligned with it to combat the smuggling of counterfeit cigarettes, and from organizations like FIFA, soccer’s governing body, to investigate illegal betting.

From: WKBW ABC7

LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WKBW) – Deputies arrested a man they say was transporting more than 600 cartons of contraband cigarettes.

Murad Elmathil, 31, was taken into custody on October 26 about a mile east of Angola on I-90. The Lackawanna resident was charged with possession of unstamped cigarettes, criminal tax fraud and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

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From: IFPress.com

By Jennifer O’Brien, The London Free Press

Saying illegal smokes are linked to a range of burning problems, from increases in kids’ smoking to more guns on the street, an anti-contraband tobacco group is turning to the public.

The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco is launching a campaign Wednesday asking people in Southwestern Ontario’s tobacco belt and the rest of the province to help police snuff out “the growing problem” by reporting tips to Crime Stoppers.

From: The Australian

We sell only to adult consumers who exercise free choice to use our products.

We support strong regulation to prohibit supply or use of tobacco products by those under age.

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Should the proposal be implemented, as with other restricted products, demand for tobacco will remain and a black market will open up to fill it.

Ms Barnsley finds the existence of an illicit tobacco market inconvenient to her arguments and hence attempts to dismiss it by claiming “dodgy research from snake oil companies”.

From: CSPnet.com

Sales decline 50% at stores along the border since 2013 fee increase

MINNEAPOLIS — Today a coalition of Minnesota’s retailers, service stations, wholesales, grocers and convenience stores released a new study showing the devastating effects the state’s 2013 tobacco tax has had on Minnesota retailers and their employees.

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Some of the study highlights include:

• 1,100 jobs are estimated to have been lost or eliminated.
• 50% tobacco sales decline in Minnesota stores along the border.
• Dramatic sales increases of tobacco products in all four bordering states.
• $38 million of lost sales of nontobacco products.