Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) was set up in June 2009 to represent tobacco retailers in Ireland in the fight against the illicit tobacco trade.
Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) has almost 3,000 retail members around the country and 14 corporate sponsors. The organization’s aims are:
• To raise awareness about cigarette smuggling and illegal cigarette selling among the public, media and political system;
• To raise awareness about the effects of illicit tobacco on retailers – eg, 70% of retailers feel it is harming their business;
• To campaign for legislative reform and extra law enforcement resources;
• To liaise with the relevant law enforcement authorities;
Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) believes that the following five-point proposal would address the issue of illicit tobacco in Ireland:
1. Minimum Fines for Cigarette Smugglers and Illegal Cigarette Sellers
It was partly through our organisation’s lobbying that the maximum fine for cigarette smuggling was increased in the Finance Act 2009 to just over €126,000. However, fines for cigarette smuggling in the second quarter of 2011 were an average of €1,200.
This sends out the signal that Ireland is a ‘soft touch’ for smugglers and that if even if they are caught, they will get a relatively minor fine. Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) believes that the setting of a mandatory minimum fine under the Finance Act for anyone convicted of cigarette smuggling or illegal cigarette selling would act as a deterrent.
2. Clampdown on Markets and Fairs
Markets and fairs where illicit tobacco is traded have a negative affect on retailers, the economy and the public finances. There has been a massive increase in sales of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes at some markets across the country.
Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) believes that the Casual Trading Act, the relevant legislation governing markets and fairs, could be reformed and fine levels increased to reflect levels set out in the Finance Act.
Where illegal cigarette selling continues at markets and fairs, RAS recommends that these markets be shut down.
3. Provision of Extra Scanner for Customs
There are EU funds available to Ireland to procure an extra scanner to monitor our ports. The availability of an extra, portable scanner to scan containers would help Revenue & Customs to stop consignments being smuggled into through Irish ports.
The scanner may be availed of at no extra cost to the State, but the Government has not yet drawn down these funds. Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) is calling on the Government to avail of these funds to help the fight against cigarette smuggling.
4. Public Awareness
There is still a perception that buying cheap cigarettes on streets, markets and fairs is a ‘victimless crime’. While the public may feel that they are getting a bargain, there is no doubt that they are fuelling other criminal activities, including drug dealing, terrorism and human trafficking.
Apart from the health risks of purchasing unregulated tobacco products, there needs to be greater awareness among the public that buying cheap, illegal cigarettes is funding other forms of organized crime.
5. Severe Penalties for those who sell to Children
Research presented at our annual conference by a UK public health expert showed that the availability of illicit tobacco increases children’s access to cigarettes and makes it more likely that minors will get involved in crime.
Separately, we are hearing from our retail members around the country that children are being used to sell illicit cigarettes on behalf of criminals. We are calling on the Government to impose severe fines on those criminals who are convicted of either selling illicit tobacco to children or using minors to sell and distribute illicit tobacco.
Retailers Against Smuggling is funded and supported by:
Applegreen
Barry Group
BWG Foods Limited
Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA)
DHL
Irish Tobacco Manufacturers Advisory Committee (ITMAC)
Londis
Musgraves
National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN)
Nightline
RGDATA
Stonehouse
Small Firms Association
Topaz