Today, the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco (NCACT) commended police services for the execution of search warrants at Akwesasne, Kanesatake, and in Oka. However, the NCACT believes that while it is critical for government to take action against drug trafficking, it is also important for government to similarly target illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks operating on reserve.
"We are glad that the RCMP has demonstrated a willingness to take strong action on reserves to shut down illegal trafficking operations," said NCACT spokesperson Gary Grant. "However, as important as it is to target drug trafficking, it is also important to take similar action against the illegal tobacco manufacturing facilities and smoke shacks that operate there. In fact, the two are very often tied together."
There is a strong connection between drug trafficking and the manufacturing and sale of contraband cigarettes. Tobacco sold illegally is the cash cow of organized crime and finances the activities - including drug, gun, and human trafficking - of more than 175 organized criminal gangs. In Canada, there are more than 50 illegal cigarette manufacturing facilities and more than 300 smoke shacks operating outside of any government regulation.
"It's bad enough that criminals are allowed to profit by way of this illegal distribution system," said Grant. "But illegal cigarettes work directly against larger tobacco control efforts. They are a key source of youth smoking, and the high use of illegal tobacco by high school students was recently identified as a factor in keeping teen smoking rates from falling."
"All we are asking is that government enforce its existing laws," concluded Grant. "Only by targeting the supply of illegal cigarettes will we see a meaningful reduction to Canada's contraband tobacco problem."
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