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Raise awareness and educate citizens
According to a nationwide poll conducted by Léger Marketing in 2008, the vast majority of contraband tobacco consumers figured that, given that the sales of these products seemed to be tolerated by the government, it was therefore allowed. The majority did not worry at all about being fined, arrested or caught dealing with a dangerous network financed and orchestrated by organized crime.
This misguided perception has resulted in desensitization to this phenomenon since it has become so widespread, and, therefore, more commonplace. The more we see it all around us, the more we begin to accept it and see it as normal; however, this is far from the case. At each police seizure, the authorities remind us that illegal tobacco sales also serve the interests of organized crime and help them continue to pursue other criminal activities such as selling drugs and weapons, extortion, theft and violence.
Educating people about the illegality of this act and the consequences of contraband tobacco is essential if we want to start reining in this traffic. Through their on-going visibility and media presence, MPs are in privileged positions to drive home the message and appeal to citizens to help fight contraband tobacco.
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