Private eyes track cigarette smugglers for tobacco firms

[Darthrevan]

Two suspected peddlers leaving a store selling contraband cigarettes in Geylang. Both have since been arrested.

 

It is not just police and Customs officers who are on the lookout for cigarette smugglers. Tobacco companies here have also been hiring more private investigators to help tackle a problem which eats into their business.

"It is in our interest as a company to understand how cigarettes are being smuggled into and distributed in Singapore," said Mr Ann Hee Kyet, corporate affairs manager of the biggest tobacco company here, Philip Morris Singapore, which distributes brands such as Marlboro and Next.

Representatives of the other two major tobacco companies - JT International Tobacco Services and British American Tobacco - made the same point to The Sunday Times.

That is where private investigators like John (not his real name), who has been working for tobacco companies over the last decade, come in. Last September, he got a tip-off that a smuggling ring was using a taxi to transport contraband cigarettes here.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/private-eyes-track-cigarette-smugglers-tobacco-firms-20140126

[Voodooman]

Smuggled Marlboro or next from Indonesia and Malaysia are also produced by Philip Morris. Are they saying their margins in Singapore are so much higher it makes sense to spend big monies on PI? I am sure they are not interested in the policing part.

[Aimnfire]

Smuggled Marlboro or next from Indonesia and Malaysia are also produced by Philip Morris. Are they saying their margins in Singapore are so much higher it makes sense to spend big monies on PI? I am sure they are not interested in the policing part.

not really

 

some sources i heard is that those illegal cigarettes are actually not only made of tobacco

it got include like saw dust, etc etc

so it was not produce by legitimate companies

but pirates that eat into their profits

[Super7]

not really

 

some sources i heard is that those illegal cigarettes are actually not only made of tobacco

it got include like saw dust, etc etc

so it was not produce by legitimate companies

but pirates that eat into their profits

Smuggling original Mahbohlor is ok, but not chiong ones!!

[Voodooman]

not really

 

some sources i heard is that those illegal cigarettes are actually not only made of tobacco

it got include like saw dust, etc etc

so it was not produce by legitimate companies

but pirates that eat into their profits

Thanks, this is new to me, people buying cheong Marlboro, might as welll smoke ang hoon.