Turning off the Tap

WHO report: Illicit tobacco trade in the Middle East

Concentrating on Iran and Iraq, this excellent report details why the illicit trade in tobacco is so lucrative and how 1 in 3 cigarettes for export are still being lost in transit.

Canadian Non-Smokers' Rights Association (External Web Page)

Smuggling in Canada - outlines the smuggling situation in Canada. A timeline of events

Rothmans, Benson and Hedges and the smuggling of cigarettes into Canada. (External Web Page)

Report on British American Tobacco, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and the Smuggling of Cigarettes into Canada

Author: Francis Thompson, Publisher: Canadian Non smokers Rights Association, Feb 2003

Position paper on tobacco smuggling and the FCTC

FCA paper on the measures needed to tackle smuggling in the FCTC - prepared in advance of the US ICITT meeting (see below) arguing for measures that would remove the tobacco companies' incentives to smuggle and secure the international wholesale distribution system. The paper was produced by the Framework Convention Alliance of 170 nongovernmental organisations.

International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade (External Web Page)
Held from July 30 to August 1, 2002, at the United Nations in New York. Illicit tobacco trade was the focus of the conference.

International Conference on Illicit Tobacco Trade White Paper.

A Whitepaper highlighting the goals of the conference to advance the framework convention on tobacco control on the prevention of illicit tobacco control.

Tobacco Companies Linked to Criminal Organizations in Lucrative Cigarette Smuggling (External Web Page)

Report by The Centre for Public Integrity, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on corporate tobaccos implication in international smuggling and its links to organized crime

Provisions in the FCTC to tackle smuggling

One of the key measures in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is the development of a regime to tackle tobacco smuggling – important for both fiscal and human health. During INB-3 proposals for a smuggling protocol made by the U.S delegation and a protocol on ‘Mutual administrative assistance’ developed by the World Customs Organisation became available.

Illegal pathways to illegal profits

The big cigarette companies and international smuggling. Examines four major case studies (Colombia, Cameroon, Spain & Bangladesh) of cigarette smuggling and tobacco industry involvement. The information is mostly drawn from British American Tobacco's internal documents and illustrated with maps, quotes and explanations of terminology.

Smuggling: what the FCTC could do

Outlines why tobacco smuggling is a health problem and what the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control's response should be.

How cigarette smuggling can be reduced (External Web Page)

Luk Joossens and Martin Raw argue that the tobacco industry are the 'true beneficiaries' of tobacco smuggling and suggest how to tackle the problem. Published in BMJ 14 October 2000.

Factsheet on international tobacco smuggling

Factsheet produced for the 2000 World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Give a good overview of the international smuggling problem.

British American Tobacco and Africa: Smuggling investigation

Quotes from tobacco industry documents suggesting British American Tobacco (BAT) have been involved in smuggled tobacco products across Africa. Contains copies of BAT documents.

Smuggling: BAT Views

Follow-up submission made by British American Tobacco on the topic of alleged their involvement in tobacco smuggling

Hawkeye System for tracing contraband tobacco

Description of scanning and monitoring technology developed by scientists in Lausanne Switzerland and Springfield Virginia USA that would allow legal traders that sell to the black market to be identified. The cost of implementing the system was 0.85 pence per pack in 1999. 

Smuggling: Our View

British American Tobacco's position paper on smuggling

Smuggling and Cross border shopping of tobacco products in the EU

Smuggling is a serious problem. The report concludes that the appropriate response to smuggling is to crack down on criminal activity.

Cigarette smuggling in Europe: who really benefits (External Web Page)

Article by Luk Joossens and Martin Raw in Tobacco Control, 1998 7:66-71. Outlines the threat of tobacco smuggling in Europe.