12 Things You Didn't Know About Smoking Illicit Cigarettes
For most of us, these shocking facts will come as a total surprise.
Published for Sponsored , 02 Oct 2013, 05:42 PM — Updated about 9 years ago
1. Malaysia has 3rd highest illicit consumption of cigarettes amongst 11 Asian countries surveyed (ITIC and Oxford Economics 2013)
The "Asia 11: Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2012" report placed Malaysia second among 11 Asian countries that suffered tax losses from the illicit cigarette trade.
oxfordeconomics.com
Malaysia has 3rd highest illicit consumption of cigarettes amongst 11 Asian countries.
Image via imgur.com2. 34.5% of total market cigarettes are illicit (ITIC 2012)
The total consumption of both legal and illicit cigarettes in Malaysia was estimated at 23 billion cigarettes last year.
nst.com.my
Former customs department director-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Yusuf said the illicit cigarettes were either smuggled from the border or produced illegally in the country.
nst.com.my
3. Malaysia lost RM1.9 billion in tax revenues in 2012 due to illicit cigarettes
"Malaysia's long coastline and borders make it an attractive target for the illicit cigarette trade. Addressing the problem requires strengthening international collaboration and a coordinated approach among enforcement bodies, the industry and non-governmental organisations and mutual assistance between countries."
nst.com.my
4. In Malaysia, when people talk about illicit cigarettes, they aren't talking about fake cigarettes bearing legitimate brands
When people say 'illicit cigarettes', they don't mean cigarettes of brands like Marlboro, Dunhill etc.
Image via hdwallpapersinn.comThe "Asia 11: Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2012" report concluded that total consumption of both legal and illicit cigarettes in Malaysia was estimated at 23 billion cigarettes last year.
nst.com.my
5. What they're talking about are cheaply manufactured cigarettes from brands such as Luffman, Era, League, Canyon, John etc.
It is estimated that there are over 100 illegal brands in the market – mainly smuggled from other Asian countries. Among the popular ones are Luffman, Ray and Tex.
thestar.com.my
6. Illicit cigarette trade activities in Malaysia mainly fall under 2 categories
CONTRABAND: Cigarettes smuggled from abroad without domestic duty paid.
thestar.com.myCOUNTERFEIT: Cigarettes manufactured without authorisation of the rightful owners, with intent to deceive consumers.
7. Illicit cigarettes are sold at more than half the price of legitimate cigarettes at around RM3.50 per pack. This makes it accessible to youth at pocket money price
While legal cigarettes have been continuously made less affordable in Malaysia, it is the illegal cigarettes – with prices largely remained unchanged between RM2 & RM3.50 per pack over the last 10 years – that remain increasingly accessible.
thestar.com.my8. Illicit cigarette trade is one of the most attractive options for funding organised crime and terrorist activities. There is high demand, high profits and low penalties
Crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim said illicit tobacco trafficking was the most attractive option for cartels to fund their illegal activities.
nst.com.my
Illicit Tobacco trafficking is the most attractive option for cartels to fund their illegal activities.
Image via 123rf.comTrafficking in cigarettes is, next to trafficking in drugs, assumed to be one of the main sources to fund terrorist activities in the sub-Saharan region where criminals involved in this trafficking closely cooperate with regional terrorist groups.
cites.org9. There are also links between the illicit cigarette trade, drug trafficking, and human trafficking
Illicit tobacco is often linked to organised crime and many of the traders also deal in drugs, alcohol and money laundering
reuters.com
Illicit tobacco sellers usually target poor and disadvantaged communities where they know people have more difficulty in affording to buy cigarettes from genuine retail outlets.
10. Illicit cigarettes are unregulated by the government or health authorities
Illicit cigarettes are unregulated by the government or health authorities. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via stepbystep.com
Illicit cigarettes are unregulated by the government or health authorities; photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via westsiderag.comThe ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) warns counterfeit cigarettes were found to contain unsanitary ingredients (such as human feces, dead flies and mold), as well as a higher dosage of lethal substances in excess of legitimate cigarettes.
Counterfeit cigarettes contain “bemisia tabaci” eggs that, once inhaled, will be like “pork tapeworm” as chronic parasitic in humans, the large population of which will cause very great harm to the nervous system and, in severe cases, can lead to necrosis of the brain.
fda.gov11. They have been found to contain potentially lethal additives
Illicit cigarettes found to contain potentially lethal additives. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via cancerfightingstrategies.comIllicit cigarettes seized in Canada and the United Kingdom were found to contain five times more cadmium, six times as much lead, 160% more tar, and 133% more carbon dioxide.
Dr. John Blatherwick, Vancouver's chief medical officer, says buying street smokes is like buying street drugs: You never know what you're getting, "People think it's a great deal. The truth is...they're getting a lousy deal."
13. Contraband smokers have worse health than smokers of legal tobacco
According to a Nicotine & Tobacco Research and Aiken study, contraband smokers have worse health than smokers of licit tobacco.
fda.gov
14. Contraband smokers also start smoking at an earlier age
"Current users of illicit tobacco had significantly greater odds of beginning smoking at younger than legal age, 60% greater odds of reporting below-average social functioning on the SF-8, and nearly twice the odds of reporting a measurable disability."
fda.gov
Two-year-old Ardi in Indonesia smokes 40 cigarettes a day. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Image via dailymail.co.uk
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