KOROR (Palau Horizon) – The FCTC is the world’s first global public health treaty, and requires parties to adopt a comprehensive range of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco. The objective of the FCTC is “to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke”.
The FCTC is made up of a series of articles describing the measures to be implemented. Article 15 addresses illicit trade in tobacco products.
Illicit trade in tobacco products (smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting) is a huge global problem that affects public health, and threatens law and order.
There is evidence that illicit trade in tobacco products is carried out by organized transnational criminal groups, and that money gained from illicit trade in tobacco products is used for other serious criminal enterprises, including terrorist operations.
Eliminating this trade requires global effort to ensure its supply and distribution chain is controlled and effective enforcement strategies are implemented.
The Republic of Palau enforces the Smuggling Act (RPPL 6-20) to ensure that tobacco and other products are not brought into Palau illegally. According to Landis Rechelluul, Customs Investigator, Support Services Unit of Palau Customs, there have been several cases of individuals that have been sentence for smuggling tobacco.
Visitors and business people entering Palau through air travel are screened, and there have been cases of tobacco hidden inside luggage, bundled in clothing, or even placed inside mattresses. In one such case, the business person was sentenced to pay a $1,200 fine and was deported from Palau for five years.
In addition, longline fishing boats often return with cases of tobacco. They have been hidden in the flooring of the boat, the cargo hold, inside the fishing line storage, and even the engine room. It is believed that these boats obtain their tobacco from a larger ship outside or inside the fishing grounds. At this time, all fishing boats returning from sea are required to go through Customs clearance.
In Switzerland, a $1 billion smuggling case involving cigarettes was the largest case of organized crime ever heart before a Swiss court. More information about the progress of the case can be viewed at www.swissinfo.ch
For more information about tobacco prevention and control, contact 488-8118 or E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
