Lost Tobacco Tax Revenue in Canada in 2009

Cigarette smuggling in Canada caused $2.2 Billion (2.4 Billion Canadian Dollars) to be lost in tax revenue. Law enforcement officials believe that up to half of all cigarettes smoked in the country could have been smuggled into the country.

Intelligence officials in Canada believe that the smuggling of cigarettes involves over 100 criminal gangs within the country.

Source:  Richard Brennan, “RCMP plays cat-and-mouse with cigarette smugglers,” Toronto Star, November 14, 2009.

Source:  Robert Benzie and Richard J. Brennan, “$2 billion in tax revenue up in smoke,” Toronto Star, November 15, 2009.