From: NACS | The Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing
The National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco asks for help to reduce the number of illegal cigarettes.
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“Baggies filled with illegal cigarettes contain little or no warnings. If young people are not asked to show identification when buying illicit products, it makes it impossible to control their access to tobacco,” said Gary Grant, spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) and a 39-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service. “Society loses. Organized crime wins.”
Just two months ago, the biggest illegal tobacco bust in North American history took place in Canada and involved more than 700 police officers. This bust, known as Operation Mygale, resulted in the arrests of more than 60 people and included the seizure of close to 53,000 kilograms of tobacco. According to law enforcement groups, over the past 18 months the criminals involved in this bust illegally imported into Canada close to 2,300 tons of processed tobacco, which represents a total production of 4 billion cigarettes. This bust also included the seizure 836 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs, making it one of the three largest seizures done in Canada in the past 25 years.
