Tobacco Smuggling

1 in 5 cigarettes smoked in the UK is smuggled (21%). ASH puts the figure at 30% for cigarettes and 70% for hand rolling tobacco (Rowell A, Bates C, Tobacco smuggling in the UK: A submission by Action on Smoking and Health to the treasury Select Committee. October 2000)

Making tobacco less affordable is an important part of the government strategy to reduce consumption. For every 10% added to the price of a packet of cigarettes in the UK there is a drop in consumption by 3 to 6 per cent. Access to smuggled tobacco is widespread among low-income groups, which undermines attempts to target smoking cessation help to low-income smokers. Contraband tobacco is therefore seen as a priority to address. This has been done successfully in Spain, which used to have one of the worst smuggling problems in Europe.

Tobacco smuggling costs £3.5billion in lost tax revenue, causes law and order problems and has an impact on legitimate retail trade. Cheap smuggled cigarettes keep people smoking and costs every person in the country £49 in lost revenue.

In March 2000 the Government announced its strategy - Tackling Tobacco Smuggling. £209 million has been allocated to tackling the problem and 1000 extra staff recruited. Along with tackling Class A drugs this has the highest enforcement priority for Customs with new powers to punish those caught selling unmarked tobacco products.

If you have information about tobacco products being sold illegally in South Yorkshire you may contact:

Customs and Excise 0800 895000

Customs and Excise
Weston House
92-98 Cleveland St
Doncaster
DN1 3LG

All calls will remain strictly confidential