Poole second worst town for use of black market cigarettes (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Poole second worst town for use of black market cigarettes
11:00am Monday 11th March 2013 in News
POOLE is the second worst town or city in the country for consumption of black market cigarettes, a survey has shown.
In just a year, rates of bootlegged, smuggled or counterfeit cigarettes smoked in the town rose from 15.7 per cent to 50.83 per cent, according to the latest MS Intelligence survey.
Bournemouth’s rate of “non-domestic” cigarettes is also higher than the national average, at nearly 28 per cent.
The figures are arrived at by counting thousands of empty cigarette packs discarded in streets and bins in 105 towns and cities with a population of more than 100,000. The scale of the problem represents a loss of billions of pounds to the Treasury.
Former Scotland Yard detective Will O’Reilly, who has been conducting research into the illicit cigarette trade, warned: “The trade in illicit tobacco has become the primary source of revenue for some criminal gangs and terrorist group.”
Comments(41)
_mooch_
says...
11:18am Mon 11 Mar 13
TGourgaud
says...
11:20am Mon 11 Mar 13
Nearly £8 a packet now, the tax is ridiculous, especially when compared to other countries in the EU when you can buy a packet for 3 euros!
(For the record I don't actually smoke)
twynham
says...
11:21am Mon 11 Mar 13
.
The UKBA warned the treasury years ago an increase in tobacco taxes will result in increased smuggling.
.
A classic case of lower taxes but increased revenue.
AmsterdamMan
says...
11:23am Mon 11 Mar 13
IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE
says...
11:31am Mon 11 Mar 13
Wouldn't you be better buying from an dodgy geezer rather than an old and potentially dangerous water heater - 'a dodgy geyser'?
Cerdicjute
says...
11:34am Mon 11 Mar 13
Bluestew
says...
11:35am Mon 11 Mar 13
LOL!.
static kill
says...
12:26pm Mon 11 Mar 13
radical
says...
1:10pm Mon 11 Mar 13
.
So what's the difference between them and the government, their both thieving conniving groups of individuals.
Lewcee
says...
1:17pm Mon 11 Mar 13
MS Intelligence is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and trades for profit. Please publish the exact source of your info Echo...to state that rates of "consumption" of these illicit tobacco products accounts for more than 50% of consumption beggars belief, and I for one want to know more exactly how they arrived at this figure. Counting packets from waste just does not sound true. Somebody is mucking about with the stats here. Bunkum.
Cordite
says...
1:42pm Mon 11 Mar 13
paul.p
says...
2:57pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Taxed to the hilt were not just going to sit there and do nothing about the high price of everything in this country.
If people want cheaper Cigarettes then they'll get cheaper whether the Govt or anyone else thinks any different.
l'anglais
says...
3:05pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Could we please supply the smugglers an unlimited supply of all three, thus leaving the world cleaner once this unintelligent genetic cesspool have died early.
Gastines3
says...
3:29pm Mon 11 Mar 13
djd
says...
4:14pm Mon 11 Mar 13
simcal
says...
4:16pm Mon 11 Mar 13
l'anglais wrote:Idiot!
Cigarettes, Alcohol and sugar destroy the human body.
Could we please supply the smugglers an unlimited supply of all three, thus leaving the world cleaner once this unintelligent genetic cesspool have died early.
radical
says...
4:18pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
Tictock
says...
4:23pm Mon 11 Mar 13
upyourpipe
says...
4:32pm Mon 11 Mar 13
l'anglais wrote:From that comment I suspect you have been indulging in all three then.
Cigarettes, Alcohol and sugar destroy the human body.
Could we please supply the smugglers an unlimited supply of all three, thus leaving the world cleaner once this unintelligent genetic cesspool have died early.
RageAgainstTheMachine
says...
4:47pm Mon 11 Mar 13
They made me so ill I stopped smoking there and then and never touched one for the last 3 years.I smoked for 25 years and was upto nearly 40 a day........so if I can do it anyone can,I only wish I did it 20 years ago
MikeGB
says...
5:00pm Mon 11 Mar 13
oneshortleg
says...
5:11pm Mon 11 Mar 13
live-and-let-live
says...
5:12pm Mon 11 Mar 13
i find it very hard to believe that someone somewhere thinks we are stupid enough to believe that empty packets have been counted throughout britain. these figures are guesswork. poole is not a good place for bootleggers except when there are special offers on theferry. portsmouth is probably best but im just guessing of course.
ashleycross
says...
5:33pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Could explain most of the comments here-yee hah!
paul parkstone
says...
6:11pm Mon 11 Mar 13
radical wrote:About 90% of the tobacco you refer to is smuggled for profit by either organised crime and to a lesser extent individuals. Bringing in tobacco goods for friends is a small problem but nevertheless still illegal.
All this talk about smuggled and bootlegged cigarettes is like something from the Elliot Ness files
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
It is quite normal practice to work out how much tobacco is consumed from abroad by examining the waste packets. I suspect that MS Intelligence are probably carrying out the survey on behalf of one of the large Tobacco companies who will undoubtedly massage the figures for the figures to fit their own agenda.
l'anglais
says...
6:16pm Mon 11 Mar 13
upyourpipe wrote:Makes a great cocktail
l'anglais wrote:From that comment I suspect you have been indulging in all three then.
Cigarettes, Alcohol and sugar destroy the human body.
Could we please supply the smugglers an unlimited supply of all three, thus leaving the world cleaner once this unintelligent genetic cesspool have died early.
boyerboy
says...
6:37pm Mon 11 Mar 13
dy into this country( ably assisted by local land owners and clergy) was so rife , a bright spark had an idea to actually REDUCE import taxes to see if it lessened the appeal for smuggled goods...it worked !
Very Old Man
says...
7:00pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Cerdicjute wrote:ad morem villae de poole
Or 'Poole second best town for use of black market cigarettes'. Depends entirely on your point of view.
Victor_Meldrew_Lives!
says...
7:42pm Mon 11 Mar 13
The price is high yes, which as I non smoker I support.
However if I smoked no doubt I would be keen to buy it elsewhere for half the price.
Alcohol is taxed prohibitvely in this country. We are told that is because there is a drinking problem. Well in Spain it is half the price and they don't have a drinking problem.
People are sick of being taxed to death by a Nanny state and actually enjoy getting one over on the taxman. It makes the alcohol or cigarettes even more enjoyable.
upyourpipe
says...
8:39pm Mon 11 Mar 13
paul parkstone wrote:Like to know where the 90% comes from, in all the years I have been smoking I can say I have never purchased any ciggies from someone in the street or someone I don't know, I have always bought them from friends and relatives who have been abroad and purchased them legitimately from known outlets on the continent.
radical wrote:About 90% of the tobacco you refer to is smuggled for profit by either organised crime and to a lesser extent individuals. Bringing in tobacco goods for friends is a small problem but nevertheless still illegal.
All this talk about smuggled and bootlegged cigarettes is like something from the Elliot Ness files
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
It is quite normal practice to work out how much tobacco is consumed from abroad by examining the waste packets. I suspect that MS Intelligence are probably carrying out the survey on behalf of one of the large Tobacco companies who will undoubtedly massage the figures for the figures to fit their own agenda.
I know that some of this stuff coming into this country kills you quicker than an ordinary fag because of the crap they contain and is connected with crime and terrorism but I cant believe this would be as high as 90%, correct me if I'm wrong.
Reducing the tax on fags would hit this market and in the end earn more money for this country but the government profess to raise the price through taxation in order to stop people from smoking, good idea but why moan about lost revenue if they are trying to get people to stop in the first place, cant have it both ways.
BIGTONE
says...
10:46pm Mon 11 Mar 13
Cordite wrote:20 Marlboro £3.50 from Romania.
They will be cheaper soon when the other eastern european immigrants arrive.........
That's why the Government are panicking. LOL
paul parkstone
says...
11:08pm Mon 11 Mar 13
upyourpipe wrote:UKBF (Customs) seize over 200 million cigarettes a year, mainly from organised crime gangs and this is just a fraction of what gets through.
paul parkstone wrote:Like to know where the 90% comes from, in all the years I have been smoking I can say I have never purchased any ciggies from someone in the street or someone I don't know, I have always bought them from friends and relatives who have been abroad and purchased them legitimately from known outlets on the continent.
radical wrote:About 90% of the tobacco you refer to is smuggled for profit by either organised crime and to a lesser extent individuals. Bringing in tobacco goods for friends is a small problem but nevertheless still illegal.
All this talk about smuggled and bootlegged cigarettes is like something from the Elliot Ness files
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
It is quite normal practice to work out how much tobacco is consumed from abroad by examining the waste packets. I suspect that MS Intelligence are probably carrying out the survey on behalf of one of the large Tobacco companies who will undoubtedly massage the figures for the figures to fit their own agenda.
I know that some of this stuff coming into this country kills you quicker than an ordinary fag because of the crap they contain and is connected with crime and terrorism but I cant believe this would be as high as 90%, correct me if I'm wrong.
Reducing the tax on fags would hit this market and in the end earn more money for this country but the government profess to raise the price through taxation in order to stop people from smoking, good idea but why moan about lost revenue if they are trying to get people to stop in the first place, cant have it both ways.
BTW your friends aren't
buying it legitimately if they are selling it to you!
Astrium
says...
12:13am Tue 12 Mar 13
I am ashamed to be born in Britain, it's full of jobs worths trying to catch everyone out.
Superuser
says...
4:21am Tue 12 Mar 13
RageAgainstTheMachinSay - would your father in law have any of these "top brand" cigarettes left.
e wrote:
I personally can't complain as my father in law bought back some really dodgy top brand counterfeit cigarettes from Spain,bless him he didn't know they were dodgy and he did me the biggest favour ever.
They made me so ill I stopped smoking there and then and never touched one for the last 3 years.I smoked for 25 years and was upto nearly 40 a day........so if I can do it anyone can,I only wish I did it 20 years ago
Some friends and I could do with a
hand giving up.
(-:
Superuser
says...
4:29am Tue 12 Mar 13
It's no wonder we have to source cheaper booze
and ciggies than everyone else.
Maybe if petrol and beer had less tax on them
we could afford to buy local tobacco.
upyourpipe
says...
9:51am Tue 12 Mar 13
paul parkstone wrote:My friend pay for fags through known supermarkets within Europe at their prices, as we are all in Europe with so called free trade, I don't see any difference except the savings in my pocket.
upyourpipe wrote:UKBF (Customs) seize over 200 million cigarettes a year, mainly from organised crime gangs and this is just a fraction of what gets through.
paul parkstone wrote:Like to know where the 90% comes from, in all the years I have been smoking I can say I have never purchased any ciggies from someone in the street or someone I don't know, I have always bought them from friends and relatives who have been abroad and purchased them legitimately from known outlets on the continent.
radical wrote:About 90% of the tobacco you refer to is smuggled for profit by either organised crime and to a lesser extent individuals. Bringing in tobacco goods for friends is a small problem but nevertheless still illegal.
All this talk about smuggled and bootlegged cigarettes is like something from the Elliot Ness files
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
It is quite normal practice to work out how much tobacco is consumed from abroad by examining the waste packets. I suspect that MS Intelligence are probably carrying out the survey on behalf of one of the large Tobacco companies who will undoubtedly massage the figures for the figures to fit their own agenda.
I know that some of this stuff coming into this country kills you quicker than an ordinary fag because of the crap they contain and is connected with crime and terrorism but I cant believe this would be as high as 90%, correct me if I'm wrong.
Reducing the tax on fags would hit this market and in the end earn more money for this country but the government profess to raise the price through taxation in order to stop people from smoking, good idea but why moan about lost revenue if they are trying to get people to stop in the first place, cant have it both ways.
BTW your friends aren't
buying it legitimately if they are selling it to you!
It seems that we have to abide by everything Europe throws at us except in harmonising taxes.
This country has bought this on themselves, to stop what they call illegal smuggling they need to bring our tobacco taxes in line with Europe then there would be no need for any of this, but then the government continually say that the reason for the extortionate tax on fags is to make them unaffordable which would force people to give up.
If they don't want people buying them in this country why complain about lost revenue when we buy them from Europe.
Either they want the revenue or they don't.
Superuser
says...
10:15am Tue 12 Mar 13
upyourpipe wrote:Well it would seem that increased tax
paul parkstone wrote:My friend pay for fags through known supermarkets within Europe at their prices, as we are all in Europe with so called free trade, I don't see any difference except the savings in my pocket.
upyourpipe wrote:UKBF (Customs) seize over 200 million cigarettes a year, mainly from organised crime gangs and this is just a fraction of what gets through.
paul parkstone wrote:Like to know where the 90% comes from, in all the years I have been smoking I can say I have never purchased any ciggies from someone in the street or someone I don't know, I have always bought them from friends and relatives who have been abroad and purchased them legitimately from known outlets on the continent.
radical wrote:About 90% of the tobacco you refer to is smuggled for profit by either organised crime and to a lesser extent individuals. Bringing in tobacco goods for friends is a small problem but nevertheless still illegal.
All this talk about smuggled and bootlegged cigarettes is like something from the Elliot Ness files
Most of the fags that come through the ports are bought legally in other European countries and bought to the U.K by friends and relatives for the people who live here who are being systematically ripped off by their own government.
I have plenty of friends and relatives who are non smokers but bring me back as many ciggies as I want, saves me a fortune in extortionate tax.
I don't consider this smuggling or bootlegging as it has been bought legally within Europe.
Interesting that all the top brands that can be purchased here are available in Europe for around £2 cheaper per 20 so is it any wonder that we are in this situation now.
It is quite normal practice to work out how much tobacco is consumed from abroad by examining the waste packets. I suspect that MS Intelligence are probably carrying out the survey on behalf of one of the large Tobacco companies who will undoubtedly massage the figures for the figures to fit their own agenda.
I know that some of this stuff coming into this country kills you quicker than an ordinary fag because of the crap they contain and is connected with crime and terrorism but I cant believe this would be as high as 90%, correct me if I'm wrong.
Reducing the tax on fags would hit this market and in the end earn more money for this country but the government profess to raise the price through taxation in order to stop people from smoking, good idea but why moan about lost revenue if they are trying to get people to stop in the first place, cant have it both ways.
BTW your friends aren't
buying it legitimately if they are selling it to you!
It seems that we have to abide by everything Europe throws at us except in harmonising taxes.
This country has bought this on themselves, to stop what they call illegal smuggling they need to bring our tobacco taxes in line with Europe then there would be no need for any of this, but then the government continually say that the reason for the extortionate tax on fags is to make them unaffordable which would force people to give up.
If they don't want people buying them in this country why complain about lost revenue when we buy them from Europe.
Either they want the revenue or they don't.
does stop people buying tobacco (from
buying it in Poole at least).
Maybe our pro Europe government
should be asking the rest of Europe
to raise their taxes in line with Englands
excessive rates.
Wonder how they would go with that?
alasdair1967
says...
5:49pm Tue 12 Mar 13
alasdair1967
says...
6:20pm Tue 12 Mar 13
alasdair1967 wrote:So how can my rubbish be counted towards this survey ?
As a smoker I will buy maybe one packet of cigarettes a week as the remainder of the time I smoke tobacco bought by myself on holiday and bought home as part of my duty free allowance 10 packets golden Virginia for 66 euros from the Balearics compared to 116 pounds or there abouts in this country as long as its for my personal consumption and if I can afford it I can legally bring home a years supply 52 packets and save an absolute fortune, that said I do know of people who have bought home sufficient products to sell on and as a result not only have paid for that holiday but also there next trip away
haveagohero
says...
9:44pm Mon 18 Mar 13
boyerboy wrote:too easy
As a holier than thou reformed smoker ....just a thought.Some 200 - 300 years ago smuggling of baccy/lace/wine/bran
dy into this country( ably assisted by local land owners and clergy) was so rife , a bright spark had an idea to actually REDUCE import taxes to see if it lessened the appeal for smuggled goods...it worked !
IDONTKNOWIFITISTRRUE says...
11:10am Mon 11 Mar 13
I hope that they recycled the packets appropriately after they had been counted (:o)