British American Tobacco
In 2000 British American Tobacco (BAT) was forced to release millions of pages of internal documents as a result of litigation in the United States. As well as revealing BAT's real stance on health, passive smoking, addiction and so on, these documents show BATs engaged in a massive smuggling operation - ensuring that its products were sold cheaply on the black market by evading tobacco taxes.
The pages contain around 200 internal BAT documents, illustrating the extent of the BAT involvement in cigarette smuggling in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Includes evidence presented to the House of Commons, correspondence with BAT and the Government, background material, scanned images of original documents. As a result of these disclosures, BAT faced a media storm, its senior management was questioned by a House of Commons Committee and the company underwent investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) over its involvement in smuggling. The investigation "did not find material indicating a basis for launching a criminal investigation". However, this does not amount to a vindication for BAT.
Latest Archived Items - access the rest of the archive here
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.
BAT Correspondence with ASH over smuggling
On 30 October 2000, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched an investigation into British American Tobacco (BAT) and their role in smuggling. This document contains correspondence between BAT, ASH and the House of Commons Health Select Committee evidence from BAT and others.
ASH Letter to Kenneth Clarke
Letter to British American Tobacco Deputy Chairman and UK politician Kenneth Clarke.
