ND1021116

Title: Northern Ireland Loses �85 Million Annually to Contraband Tobacco

Description: Criminals are raking in �29 million from illegal cigarettes.

Page Content:

BELFAST, Northern Ireland ? Contraband tobacco is costing Northern Ireland a whopping �85 million per year, the Belfast Telegraph reports. Seventeen percent of the 2 billion cigarettes sold in the country annually are illegal, as well as 59 percent of hand-rolled smokes, much higher than Britain?s averages of 13 percent and 54 percent, respectively.

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Criminals make �29 million annually from selling illicit tobacco products. Japan Tobacco International testified about the figures during a hearing held by the Northern Ireland Select Committee this week.

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The company said tobacco smuggling costs Northern Ireland retailers �1,000 per week. Paul Williams, who heads corporate affairs for Japan Tobacco International?s U.K. division, said the high tax on cigarettes contributes to the illegal trade. ?Prices going up will filter through to the criminals, saying ?that's an extra margin we can make'.?

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Some ministers criticized the tobacco firm for not trying to get tougher enforcement. Williams countered that ?we are very active, but unfortunately can't get access to government departments.?

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Recently, 120 million contraband cigarettes were seized during a raid at Greenore Port in Co Louth, the biggest haul so far. ?

Content Subject: International

Formatted Article Date: October 21, 2011

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