For the announcement of the RCMP Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy

Remarks by the
Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

Ottawa, Ontario
7 May 2008
As Delivered

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your interest and attendance today. I'm here with RCMP Assistant Commissioner Raf Souccar who will be providing a few comments related to the announcement that we are making today. I'm very pleased to announce in conjunction with the RCMP and the sixth annual Canada-U.S. Tobacco Diversion project, the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy, which has been developed with the RCMP and a number of their partners.

Ladies and gentlemen, the manufacture and sale of illegal tobacco has evolved considerably over the last few of years. It used to be individuals who would manufacture and market this product, but that has changed quite a bit. It has now evolved into high levels of organized criminal activity. While the cost of 200 legitimate cigarettes would be $75 to $90, a package of illegally manufactured cigarettes could be available on the black market for as low as $6. You can see that the temptation to enter this business, and also to purchase illegal cigarettes, is very strong.

We are looking at a number of ways of approaching this issue. We are asking individuals who are tempted to buy this product at such a low price to consider that they are contributing to a very dangerous pipeline of criminal activity. The RCMP has identified up to 100 criminal organizations that are manufacturing, producing and distributing these illegal cigarettes.

The proceeds of these organized crime groups go towards enhancing their capability to manufacture and sell counterfeit pharmaceuticals and illegal firearms, and support the criminal activities that they are involved in.

We are asking that people who purchase illegal cigarettes realize that this is not a benign activity. Buying cigarettes at that low price is not a victimless crime. They are buying them illegally and are supporting a host of criminal activities that can lead to dangerous situations in their own communities. It can lead to destruction and even death, depending on the level of criminal activity that they are supporting.

There are various components to the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Strategy. First, we aim to dismantle the illegal manufacturing of these cigarettes and disrupt the supply lines so that we can seize the products and proceeds, and arrest the perpetrators. This is a very vigorous and robust component of our strategy.

The federal government has already funded the recruitment of 1,000 RCMP personnel across the country. Some of them will be working in this particular strategy. Also, through the RCMP Customs and Excise Program, there are 71 resources that have been dedicated to dismantling and disrupting the manufacturing and sale of illegal tobacco products.

We have also contributed to a pilot project called Shiprider, whereby officers on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border can work together on the same vessel. One project alone under Shiprider resulted in some 41 arrests and the seizure of about 1.4 million illegal cigarettes

Ladies and gentlemen, we are very focused on this Strategy. As you know, we are going after all elements of serious crime at various different levels. We take very seriously the concerns of our policing agencies, health agencies and communities. I'm pleased to announce this Strategy and I look forward to the results.

At this point, I would like to invite Assistant Commissioner Raf Souccar who has had considerable experience in the RCMP, in all levels of operations including undercover operations dealing with drugs and contraband products. We are very pleased that he is here to add a few comments to today's announcement.