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Our commitment:

Creating safer communities by working with government and industry partners to reduce the illicit tobacco trade driven by organized crime.

Tobacco is one of the most common illegally traded goods in the world. The illicit tobacco trade is not a petty or victimless crime—illegal cigarettes are a problem for all of us. They undermine public health, threaten public safety and siphon government tax revenue meant for providing important social services. 

In Canada, there are roughly six billion contraband cigarettes sold each year and according to the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies, there are 173 known organized criminal groups (OCGs) involved in Canada's illegal cigarette trade. By some estimates, the illegal cigarette trade is eight times as profitable as drug dealing.

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Why is contraband tobacco a problem?

  • Cigarettes manufactured without legal controls pose a public safety risk
  • Availability of inexpensive, illicit cigarettes undermines public health efforts
  • Contraband tobacco revenues fuel organized crime
  • Illegal on-street sales negatively affect communities
  • Lost tax revenue means reduced social services

Criminal groups involved in contraband tobacco use profits generated from the contraband tobacco trade to fund other illegal activities, including guns and drug trafficking. When organized crime is involved in any form of illicit commerce, violence always follows and there is a very real human cost. There are ample recent examples across the country that serve as a grim reminder that contraband tobacco brings violence and criminality to our doorsteps. 

A problem all Canadians should care about

This is a problem that needs to be addressed urgently and is one every Canadian should care about. It is also a problem that every Canadian can do something about.

 

Governments, both provincially and federally, have to recognize that contraband tobacco is not a victimless crime – it has serious implications. We continue to urge all levels of government to work together with provincial law enforcement agencies to take decisive action to combat the problem. Quebec was able to reduce illegal sales from roughly 33 per cent to around 12 per cent by moving in this direction and enacting legislation that empowered police officers. Governments can also take action by targeting the supply side of the equation. 

How does RBH fight illicit trade?

Illicit Trade Prevention (ITP) is a department within Rothmans Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH) that provides industry-specific support to Canadian government and law enforcement agencies in tackling organized crime as it relates to contraband tobacco. 

We also provide financial support to public safety and community organizations, and any other assistance we can, to help address the issue of contraband tobacco. Under the RBH Government Assistance Program, assistance we provide to any government entity is entirely free of charge.

We are the only industry partner that offers an expert witness recognized in criminal courts on the topics of contraband tobacco, legitimate commerce of tobacco and organized crime.

Federal leadership, coordination and resources are needed to put an end to this organized criminal activity that’s linked to gun and drug trafficking, and potentially putting cigarettes in the hands of youth.