“Contraband tobacco is an extremely well-organized billion dollar cash cow for organized crime.”
Kevin Newman, Managing Editor/Journalist (“Smoke Rings”, CTV W5)
When you buy illegal cigarettes,
you fund organized crime.
“Profit margins for contraband tobacco are as high as 400 per cent.”
Rick Barnum, Executive Director – National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco.
“Research done by Abacus Data for Imperial Tobacco estimates that 35 per cent of the tobacco market in B.C. is taken by contraband tobacco, up from 15 per cent a little over a year ago.”
Eric Gagnon, Director of Corporate Affairs – Imperial Tobacco
“The rise of contraband tobacco threatens the existence of many convenience stores. These stores are key supporters of communities and their loss is due to black market competition.”
Sara MacIntyre, Vice-President of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada’s (Western Division)
“Organized crime sees this as an opportunity to launder their illegal cigarettes.”
Mike Morris, MLA, Prince George – Mackenzie