TMA: Major New Anti-Smuggling Tobacco Campaign Launches across UK Transport Hubs, High-Risk European Travel Routes and Online
The trade association representing the UK tobacco industry has today launched a major campaign targeting the illicit tobacco trade across some of the busiest transport hubs in the UK, key transports routes in and out of the country and online.
The campaign which builds on previous TMA activities* seeks to challenge the flows of non-UK duty paid tobacco from known high-risk routes into the UK which is then sold on illegally in a variety of ways. Research shows that this ranges from simply selling on to friends and family or by more sophisticated means such as through the use of retailers, social media and community websites. The TMA is therefore extending its campaign activities to focus on such online platforms used for the sale of illegal tobacco as well as known transport routes used to bring non-UK duty paid tobacco into the UK.
The campaign, which will run during the busy summer period, will cover the following areas:
The TMA is advising adult consumers to adhere to the government guidelines and only bring tobacco into the UK for personal use, as the consequences can be severe. The TMA advises smokers not to buy illegal tobacco products from online sources as they could be aiding organised crime.
Commenting on the campaign, Giles Roca, Director General of the TMA said:
"As people travel to and from the continent over the summer holidays, we are taking this opportunity to remind them with this new campaign that it is illegal to bring back tobacco from overseas and then sell it on in the UK.
"Reselling tobacco bought overseas is not a victimless crime. This practice affects many hard-working independent shopkeepers who are deprived of legitimate tobacco sales and related footfall.
"This year we are also extending the reach of the campaign to include specific high-risk transport routes into the UK and some of the online platforms that we know are then used to then sell on such illicit tobacco. Our advice is simple; don't be tempted."
NOTES
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170731005406/en/
TMAPaul Stockallpstockall@the-tma.org.uk07747486479
Source: TMA: Major New Anti-Smuggling Tobacco Campaign Launches across UK Transport Hubs, High-Risk European Travel Routes and Online
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