Fake Chinese Cigarettes Seized at Vancouver Port
Counterfeit cigarettes manufactured in Chinese factories and packaged to look like popular Canadian and American brands have been seized in a massive scoop by Canadian officials. A container ship from China that arrived at the Port of Vancouver, ostensibly carrying clothing, was found to have 49,750 cartons of Camel cigarettes instead, said CBSA spokeswoman Faith St. John.
“The documentation that accompanied the container indicated that it contained clothing. However, when CBSA officers X-rayed the shipment they found inconsistencies. A full examination of the container uncovered 49,750 cartons of undeclared cigarettes, estimated to be worth over $3.5 million dollars, hidden inside the shipment,” she said.
“Border services officers determined that these smuggled cigarettes were counterfeit Players, Du Maurier and Marlboro brands,” she added.
“This shipment was believed to be destined for the Vancouver market. The CBSA would like to take this opportunity to advise consumers to only purchase cigarettes from legitimate retail outlets. Counterfeit cigarettes have little or no quality control and represent a health risk above and beyond what most smokers expect. The provincial government also loses out on taxes that could normally be funnelled back into health care and other worthy public projects.”
Samples of the cigarettes have been sent for CBSA analysis. The investigation is ongoing.
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