Hard hitting 'Counterfeit Kills' campaign highlights dangers of illicit cigarette trade
A hard-hitting campaign to warn smokers in Birmingham of the dangers of buying counterfeit cigarettes is launched today, Wednesday 7 March, by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in partnership with Smoke Free Birmingham. The high impact campaign aims to increase public awareness of the illicit cigarette trade and deliver a serious and powerful health message to local people that 'Counterfeit Kills'.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A hard-hitting campaign to warn smokers in Birmingham of the dangers of buying counterfeit cigarettes is launched today, Wednesday 7 March, by HM Revenue & Customs ( HMRC ) in partnership with Smoke Free Birmingham.
The high impact campaign aims to increase public awareness of the illicit cigarette trade and deliver a serious and powerful health message to local people that 'Counterfeit Kills'.
Leaflets featuring an adapted image of a skull and cross bones will be distributed to nearly 200,000 homes in Birmingham, along with bus and radio advertising to deliver this powerful message.
The initiative follows the announcement that Customs Officers seized nearly 80 million illicit cigarettes and nearly 12 tonnes of hand rolling tobacco in the Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area last year - half of which were counterfeit. This supports Smoke Free Birmingham's ongoing strenuous efforts to help people quit smoking and live a longer and healthier lifestyle.
Fake cigarettes can often seem like an attractive offer to local people, lured into purchasing them at what seem like bargain prices. However, the startling truth is these unregulated cigarettes contain a seriously unhealthy mix of cancer-causing chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, benzene and formaldehyde. With expertly crafted packaging it is almost impossible to spot counterfeit cigarettes until you experience the ill effects from smoking them due to the highly toxic set of ingredients they contain.
Bob Lyne, Senior Detection Manager for HMRC said: "We are delighted to be working with Smoke Free Birmingham in this high profile campaign which we hope will have a real impact on improving the quality of life for everyone in this vibrant city. We are determined to eradicate this form of criminality which has a devastating effect on all our communities. This is not an innocent or victimless form of crime but one that encourages otherwise honest people to trade with criminals. These gangs are unlicensed and unregulated, they are not concerned with who buys their products or the lethal ingredients they may contain. The huge profits they reap from cigarette sales is ploughed straight back into the criminal underworld, feeding activities like drug dealing and fraud."
He added: "We are keen to work closely with local people and communities, including neighbourhood watch schemes, in the fight against crime. Our work frequently takes us to the doorsteps of residential houses, factory floors and workplaces where individuals base their trade in cheap cigarettes to the community and work colleagues, often with no regard to sales to underage children. We would encourage anyone who knows of someone selling cheap or duty free cigarettes and tobacco from their house or place of work to contact our confidential hotline number on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.confidential@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk "
Janet Reece, Smoke Free Birmingham Programme Manager said: "As well as being an illegal activity when counterfeit cigarettes are purchased, like any other counterfeit product, individuals don't know exactly what they are buying. The cigarettes are often poor in quality and will have a different taste to real cigarettes. By smoking cigarettes smokers are increasing their risk of suffering, in the short term from shortness of breath and increased coughing and wheezing. In the long term they are increasing their risks of suffering from coronary heart disease, stroke and various cancers such as cancer of the stomach, throat, kidney, bladder and lung."
She added: "Cigarettes, whether real or counterfeit, are damaging to health and tobacco will kill half of all its smokers. The best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. For advice and support to stop smoking please contact the Call to Quit Helpline 0800 0525 855.
Notes to editors
* Background information on how to spot tobacco fraud is attached.
* Smoke Free Birmingham is a partnership between Birmingham City Council, NHS Trusts, business organisations, HM Revenue & Customs, Trading Standards and the voluntary sector.
Issued by HM Revenue & Customs.
How to spot tobacco fraud
What to look out for:
* tobacco ( cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco ) sold in unusual paces e.g. car boot sales * unauthorised sellers selling cheap tobacco in pubs, clubs and workplaces * legitimate retailers selling tobacco products at remarkably cheap prices * tobacco products without health warnings or with warnings not in English * tobacco products without the duty paid pack mark * unusual brands * unusual, out-of-hours deliveries * transfer of goods between vehicles * heavily laden vans * regular hiring of vans for foreign trips * UK brands of tobacco with tax labels not in English * frequent private trips to France or Belgium.
What should you do?
Note down, where possible:
* description of people and vehicles eg registration numbers * date * time * place * names * details of the products, including selling prices and brands. * Call the Customs Confidential Hotline 0800 59 5000 now
For your safety
* DO NOT become involved - these people can be dangerous. * DO NOT buy any suspect goods, even as proof. * DO NOT think any piece of information is too trivial - it could be vital.
Tobacco fraud
With an estimated £3 billion in revenue being drained from the public purse each year by tobacco smugglers alone the problem of excise fraud is a real one and one which both the Government and HM Revenue & Customs are determined to crack.
Tobacco fraudsters are not "enterprising rogues". They are criminals cashing in at the cost of honest taxpayers and businesses.
They have also become increasingly sophisticated over the past decade:
* They often operate in large gangs * A large proportion already have criminal records * Many have a history of violence and benefit fraud.
Some of these criminals have even resorted to guns and violence to protect their lucrative but illegal trade.
Selling the goods on
Once the tobacco goods are smuggled into the UK, they are sold on to others at prices below the UK market rate, but still representing a hefty profit margin for the criminals.
Sales operations for the illegal goods vary from the pub hawker selling from plastic bags, to more elaborate house or warehouse-based set-ups.
Markets, car boot sales, factory floors and pop festivals are popular venues for this type of criminal activity, especially for hand-rolling tobacco and cigarettes. But unscrupulous pubs and shops have also been prosecuted for selling illegal tobacco on their premises.
The Government is determined to crack down on those profiting at the expense of the public purse. It is the job of HMRC to translate these tough policies into front-line action by:
* Detecting and apprehending those involved in and tobacco fraud
* Investigate major criminals and bring cases to court
* Build up detailed intelligence on the illicit market and the fraudsters who feed it
Working with others
The size of the illicit trade means that no one organisation can tackle it alone.
Of all our partners, the public is one of the most vital in our fight against smugglers and fraudsters. Our 24-hour hotline - Customs Confidential - is a free telephone service, which the public can use to pass on any information about possible illegally imported goods or tax evasion and fraud.
Call HMRC's confidential hotline number on 0800 59 5000 or email customs.confidential@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk or write to Freepost Customs Confidential, Freepost SEA 939, PO Box 100, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BR
Tougher penalties
Criminals who are caught and successfully prosecuted can expect severe penalties, including jail sentences and heavy fines. Jail sentences can be given for revenue evasion of even a few thousand pounds, with the more serious criminals liable to a maximum term of seven years in prison.
In fact, Customs now urges the courts to use all sanctions available against offenders, including driving disqualifications, seizure of their vehicle, compensation orders and confiscation of their assets.
Offenders belonging to the licensed trade - pubs, off-licences, clubs and so on - are all subject to prosecution and may even have their licences revoked.
Unscrupulous hauliers also risk the removal of their operating licences and vehicle rental companies who persistently hire vehicles to smugglers face steep payments to gain their vehicles back.
l your local Stop Smoking Service on 0800 0525 855.
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