Stop cigarette smuggling- Prof. Carlo Fonseka

By Ananda Kannangara

Although the consumption of tobacco in our country has reduced to a great extent it is pathetic that authorities have not yet taken measures to eliminate its smuggling.

Globally, cigarettes are recognised as the most smuggled tobacco products in the world. Unlike in other regions, some countries in South Asia are known for the manufacture, sale and use of wide varieties of tobacco products.

Persons involved in the tobacco industry say that high taxes are the main cause for tobacco smuggling.

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) recently revealed that the increase in the price of cigarettes will not stop people from smoking unless the smuggling of illegal cigarettes in to the country is eliminated.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, NATA Chairman, Prof. Carlo Fonseka said a wide range of tobacco related products have killed over 100 million people in the world during the last century.

“If authorities all over the world do not take precautionary measures to encourage people to refrain from smoking and smuggling illegal cigarettes, the death rate due to smoking will be doubled during the 21st century,”.

The NATA statistics also indicate that South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are highly vulnerable to this illicit tobacco trade.

It is reported that two international organisations in the forefront of tobacco control activities, the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) and the Health Bridge have started a multi-country investigative research on the illicit tobacco trade in these four Asian countries.

A heap of illegally imported cigarette packets

Over 40 million illegal cigarettes were detected by customs last year

The NATA Chairman further said that cigarettes are recognised as the most smuggled tobacco products in the world and this could be completely stopped if authorities take stringent measures.

He said that there are no consolidated records or estimates about the extent of the illicit tobacco trade or the consumption of illegal cigarettes in Sri Lanka.

It is said that the lack of controls on tobacco products assists its smuggling network. Unlicensed distribution and non-existence of anti-smuggling laws are the main reasons for high tobacco consumption in the country.

Tax free cigarettes made freely available especially to the young, harms their health.

Smuggling also reduces Government’s revenue. Some well-known cigarette companies in the world have been heavily involved in smuggling operations.

Quoting Customs statistics, Prof. Fonseka said most smuggled cigarettes come to Sri Lanka from China and Middle Eastern countries such as Dubai.

Colombo Port has become the major entry point for smuggled international branded cigarettes and 75 percent of the products come from Dubai.

The Director General of Customs says that the illegally manufactured cigarettes come through the sea port of Colombo and the airport in Katunayaka.

Nearly 245.3 million illegal sticks were detected in 2004, 82 million sticks in 2005, 27.9 million sticks in 2007, 33.5 million sticks in 2008 and 40 million sticks last year. Cigarette smuggling is also carried out via Indian boats that approach the Sri Lanka coast.

These cigarettes are transferred at deep sea to Sri Lankan fishing boats which are ferried towards unlocated places in the Lankan coast along with the day’s catch.

Prof.Fonseka highlighted that most rich and influential people in the country are responsible for the illegal tobacco trade.

The authorities must keep a close tab on such persons and bring them to book without considering their positions in society or their professions.

The Excise Commissioner General (ECG) said that over 200,000 people are engaged in the manufacture and trade of white cigarettes and domestically made cigarettes on which no tax is levied.

“Manufacturing white cigarettes could be overcome through implementation of suitable law,” he said.

The ECG has also suggested to the Ministry of Finance to introduce a rewards system to encourage the public to be vigilant on the cigarette smuggling trade.

If so, the Department will be able to implement a more efficient operations system to crack down offenders.

Prof. Fonseka further said that tobacco kills more people than from several other major diseases such as AIDS and also from suicides, road accidents, dangerous drugs, murders and arson.

He said that Sri Lanka has ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and called upon law enforcement officers to strictly monitor the ban imposed on the sale of tobacco related products and also alcohol near educational institutions and other religious places.

He also mentioned that a number of complaints regarding the use of of cigarettes and alcohol by school children are being received by the Authority.