Media coverages of illicit trade in tobacco products are typically generated from industry or government sources. A majority of cigarette illicit trade studies are linked to the tobacco industry. A recent UK study shows how “Tobacco companies have been able to disseminate their research to wide audiences in their attempts to increase the public perception that illicit trade is ever increasing, while there remain doubts as to whether this is in fact the case.” This page lists the news articles on smuggling during the pandemic. A quick review shows that smuggling reports are used to justify a relaxation of sales restrictions during the lockdown. Almost all the reports show a disregard for the Guidelines to Implement Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC which underscores the need to reject tobacco industry partnerships.
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Date |
Title |
Author, |
Persons/ Organizations Cited1 |
Industry Links |
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July 3, 2020 |
Law Changes Treat The Symptoms, Not The Cause Of Tobacco Black Market |
SCOOP Politics |
Jordan Williams New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union |
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July 2, 2020 |
NZ’s tobacco black market: Quarter of a billion tax dollars lost |
Hurley, S., New Zealand Herald |
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July 2, 2020 |
KLSE Screener |
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) |
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April 26, 2020 |
No breathing space for tobacco firms as illicit traders get innovative |
Li, K., |
Jonathan Darlow Reed
Cormac O’Rourke
Naeem Shahab Khan
Heath Michael |
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April 17, 2020 |
New Straits Times |
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin |
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April 16, 2020 |
Border security during Covid-19 crucial to prevent contagion, illicit trade — consultant |
Lin, W., |
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Rohan Pike |
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April 13, 2020 |
Illegal cigarette dealers seek novel ways to hoodwink authorities |
Singh, R., |
Heath Michael |
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May 20, 2020 |
Illicit trade of cigarettes: ‘Further rise in share may result in closure of factories’ |
Sarfraz, S., |
Noor Aftab Pakistan Tobacco Company |
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May 2, 2020 |
The International News |
Sajjad Ahmad Cheema
Malik Imran Ahmed |
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April 28, 2020 |
Legal businesses in peril: ‘Higher taxation to boost illicit tobacco trade’ |
Bhatti, R., |
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March 18, 2020 |
Ziauddin, M., |
Muhammad Sabir
Hana Ross
Hamid Ateeq Sarwar |
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June 22, 2020 |
Visaya Jr., V., Inquirer |
Col. James Cipriano |
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May 01, 2020 |
de Vera, B., |
Ramon Lopez Juanito Arcilla Lin Lianci alias Simon Lin Fred Roeder Consumer Choice Center (CCC) |
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April 21, 2020 |
de Vera, B., |
Carlos G. Dominguez III |
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April 16, 2020 |
P8.275 million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City |
Mercado, N., |
Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. |
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March 06, 2020 |
Lacson, N., |
Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr. |
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June 26, 2020 |
South Africa tobacco ban greeted with cigarette smuggling boom |
Chingono, N., The Guardian |
Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo Paul Nyathi Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) |
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June 23, 2020 |
Illegal cigarette trade may reduce economic harm of tobacco ban – govt in court papers |
Retail Brief Africa |
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma President Cyril Ramaphosa British American Tobacco South Africa Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) |
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June 23, 2020 |
Tobacco ban possibly dangerous for smokers buying illicit cigarettes, says ex-Sars lawyer |
IOL |
Telita Snyckers Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) |
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May 6, 2020 |
FITA says tobacco ban is increasing illicit trade of cigarettes |
Mavuso, S., IOL |
Sinenhlanhla Mnguni
Ebrahim Ahmed Adamjee
Beverley-Anne Maclean
Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) |
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April 18, 2020 |
“Illicit trade flourishes whilst legitimate tobacco industry is prevented from participating” – Fita |
Vaal Weekblad |
Sinenhlanhla Mnguni Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) |
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April 17, 2020 |
SABC News |
Tebele Luthuli
Business Against Crime SA (BACSA) |
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April 12, 2020 |
Hosken, G., Sunday Times |
Brig Vish Naidoo
Professor Cornè van Walbeek
Khusela Diko
Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association |
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April 09, 2020 |
Concern about illegal immigrants returning when lockdown is lifted |
DefenceWeb |
Tobacco Institute of SA (TISA)
British American Tobacco SA (BATSA)
SA Revenue Service (SARS) |
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April 02, 2020 |
Bheki Cele warns DA-led Western Cape that sale of cigarettes remains illegal |
Cilliers, C., |
Bheki Cele
Ebrahim Patel
Yusuf Abramjee |
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May 18, 2020 |
Retailers report tobacco sales surge as lockdown hits illicit trade |
Walker, G., Convenience Store |
Ralph Patel
Bipin Haria
Arif Ahmed
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April 26, 2020 |
Illegal cigarettes on the Southwest border increased during the epidemic season |
Nguyen, D., Haiquan Online |
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April 26, 2020 |
Southwest border: The price difference, cigarette smuggling increased |
Cong Thuong |
Mr. Pham Duc Chinh
Mr. Chau Thanh Long |
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United Kingdom
1Persons/organizations cited are all those that were mentioned or used in the articles listed regardless of their views on the matter. In some cases, a person’s statement /work has been countered by the author or the person’s name may have been used inappropriately to further the objectives/ points of the author. Those that have established links with tobacco industry are listed under the column on those with industry links.
Do you have information on tobacco industry’s tactics during COVID-19? Let us know. Send us any information at ggtc@ggtc.world or submit here.
