Unhealthy tobacco gets more hazardous with contrabands

Doug Williamson
The Windsor Star

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Consumers beware -- there's "unsafe" tobacco out there.

Of course, health officials would be quick to say smoking any tobacco product is not safe. But on Tuesday, the RCMP were making the point that illegal contraband tobacco pose a "health hazard" because it's unknown what's in them. RCMP officers from the customs and excise section blitzed 48 area convenience stores, dropping off pamphlets on the legal risks of selling contraband tobacco.

Const. Annette Bernardin said some of the contraband originates from overseas, and there is no way to check on manufacturing standards. Traditional cigarette manufacturers have standards they have to adhere to, she said. Native reserves which can manufacture and sell cigarettes are another source of the illegal products that may be smuggled out for sale off the reserves. They are cheaper because there are no taxes paid.

"These are produced who knows where," Bernardin said as she and other officers talked to downtown convenience store owners Raymond and Kim Chu, displaying some samples of illegal cigarettes and loose tobacco.

"We're just trying to make everyone aware of the problem."

Calling the contraband products a "health hazard," Bernardin said last year 472,000 illegal cartons were seized in Canada, with a value of $1.6 billion. Local statistics were not available.

There is a serious side to this: Consumers who buy contraband tobacco are helping fund the purchase of illegal drugs, weapons and other criminal activities, the RCMP says.

And store owners who are caught face hefty fines, jail times and seizure of property, police warn.

Kim Chu said at least one customer per week walks in and asks for illegal cigarettes. "It seems to be progressively worse in the last few years," Kim said.

"With the high taxes on cigarettes, it is impossible to compete against stores who sell contraband. So it is tempting for every store owner," Raymond said.

The products can come in the form of loose tobacco, "rollies," which are unpackaged cigarettes stuffed into clear resealable bags, or cartons which at first glance resemble legal products. But it's easy to tell the difference: Legal cigarettes must have a yellow tear strip all the way around each box, and carry health warnings as well as bilingual labeling. Contraband products usually do not meet these standards, and are normally not displayed alongside legal products, but rather come from under the counter.

A large bag of rollies can cost between $6 and $18, compared with legal cartons which retail for $68, Kim said.

The RCMP officers are not responsible for enforcing laws against sale of legal or illegal products to minors -- that falls under the purview of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

The contraband is also sold from the back of cars and other locations besides stores, Bernardon added.

"The legitimate business owners are not able to compete."