Five million illegal cigarettes seized in B.C. in 2019

More than five million illegal cigarettes were taken off the street last year, representing about $1.4 million in lost tax revenue, according to the B.C. Finance Ministry.

The illegal tobacco was seized during undercover investigations conducted with law enforcement agencies across B.C., with the majority of cigarettes found in Surrey, said a press release. About 3.6 million cigarettes were seized in Surrey, while 1.6 million were seized in Vancouver and 82,000 in Kelowna.

Taking the black market cigarettes off the market, if it forces buyers to buy legally, could save the province the $1.4 million in tax revenue loss — “revenue that could be put toward the services and programs that British Columbians rely on, including health care, infrastructure and education,” said the press release.

The province regulates the sale, purchase, possession and transportation of tobacco. Contraband tobacco includes products that are not properly stamped or marked, or legal products that are purchased and sold illegally.

In addition to working with police, the Finance Ministry’s consumer taxation audit branch regularly inspects retail outlets to ensure retailers are not selling contraband products.

“Contraband tobacco can get into the hands of people under the age of 19 and can contribute to increased criminal activities, such as organized crime and drug and gun trafficking,” said the press release.

A 2016 study by the Western Convenience Stores Association found that an average of 14.7 per cent of the butts collected in B.C. were unbranded, indicating they were contraband.

The study examined cigarette butts discarded at 50 locations, including several government offices, universities, colleges and schools. Nearly half of all butts examined at UBC that year were not store-bought brands.