The Ministry of Finance's Consumer Taxation Audit Branch released the latest information on illegal cigarettes in BC and the results are quite shocking.
According to the branch, more than five million illegal cigarettes were taken off the streets last year. This included approximately 3.6 million cigarettes in Surrey, 1.6 million in Vancouver and 82,000 in Kelowna.
The seizure of the cigarettes saves the Province $1.4 million in potential taxation revenue loss. Those revenues can now be put towards services like health care, infrastructure and education.
All of the illegal tobacco was seized during undercover investigations conducted with local law enforcement agencies. The MFCAB also inspects retail outlets to ensure that retailers are not selling contraband products.
For more information on illegal tobacco, click here.
