• March 28, 2024

Partnering in Ireland to fight smuggling

Imperial Tobacco’s business in Ireland is helping to support a high-profile initiative to highlight the impact of illicit trade on the nation’s economy.

A campaign has been launched by the Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) group with the backing of Imperial’s John Player brand to raise awareness of the level of unpaid duty on tobacco and fuel.

‘The Stop Smuggling campaign’s website includes a ‘debt clock’, which calculates how much revenue is being lost in real time and urges the public to help by reporting any illegal sales,’ according to a note posted on Imperial’s website.

“Illicit trade poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of our trade partners so it’s important for us to help support worthwhile initiatives such as this,” said Deirdre Healy, corporate affairs manager in Ireland.

Meanwhile, Benny Gilsenan, of RAS, said that Ireland lost more than €390 million a year to smuggling.

“These activities fund criminal gangs and deprive Ireland of much needed money at a time when our country can ill afford it,” he added.