Does buying black market save? Or switch it around…what is the cost to you for the illegal tobacco market? Something we don’t think about…day to day…but we should. Because illegal tobacco might not take loonies out of your wallet but it does cost you. It costs everyone.
Remember my post Stop Illegal Tobacco? In that post, I wrote about what impacts your life more than you know (and yes, illegal tobacco affects us all…). We often think crime rings are a thing of movies. Or in other parts of the world. But it’s going on here…close to home.
For example, CBC news reported on Quebec police targeting contraband tobacco, drug trafficking, and money laundering just this year.
- The individuals are part of a large criminal organization that, according to police, illegally imported 2,081 tonnes of tobacco over a two-year period between August 2014 and March 2016.
- That amounted to $530 million in fraud against the provincial and federal government.
- Police seized tobacco, money and drugs during their two-year-long investigation, including:
- Over $13.5 million in tobacco.
- Over $1.5 million related to illicit transactions in Canada.
- Almost $3 million in American currency.
- 836 kilograms of cocaine.
- 21 kilograms of methamphetamine.
- 100 grams of Fentanyl.
- 16 kilograms of marijuana.
I don’t consider myself political. And I’m not much of an activist. But sometimes it takes an “ordinary person” to use their voice to speak up against injustice. I believe buying black market cigarettes has a trickle effect to bigger crime. And I say…illegal tobacco is wrong.
Watching this documentary hits home
Use your voice. Back it up with action. Don’t buy black market (for tobacco or anything). Buying black market doesn’t save you in the long run. Never does.
To learn more about the facts linking organized crime to the sale of illegal tobacco, visit StopIllegalTobacco.ca. To join the discussion on Twitter, use the hashtag #StopIllegalTobacco.
This post is sponsored by the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco. I have received compensation for my involvement in this campaign; however, all opinions on this post are strictly my own.
Most of the people I know just buy it from the tax free gas station in the city that is part of the urban reserve. I’m actually surprised that anyone can afford to smoke with how high the price is (or the health costs associated with it)
Unfortunately it’s easier to ignore these things than to speak up. Thanks for speaking up.
Speaking up for wrongs are important. I don’t smoke, never have. I had a parent who did and his smoking caused a lot of health issues, financial problems, etc. I know its an addiction, but I think smoking is just wrong.
It is great that you are speaking up. I have a couple friends that smoke and they are always complaining about the cost.
Buying Black market is never good. My Husband is a smoker and I would be afraid about the quality of the cigarettes from a Black Market dealer.
Clearly the comments are moderated it is a fact that no one cares about “illegal smokes” the whole nation including non smokers think the government is the biggest organized crime involved in tobacco