Toronto Crime Stoppers Launches Hard-Hitting Public Awareness Campaign, Sale of Illegal Cigarettes is Funding Organized Crime

Toronto Crime Stoppers Launches Hard-Hitting Public Awareness Campaign, Sale of Illegal Cigarettes is Funding Organized Crime

Thursday, July 19, 2018 - 2:47 PM
Crime Stoppers:  416-808-7261

Toronto Crime Stoppers is launching a city-wide public awareness campaign to highlight the threats to our communities posed by the sale of illegal cigarettes. The campaign features a series of 30-second radio and print advertisements designed to show how the purchase of illegal cigarettes is helping fund organized crime, like illegal biker gangs and street gangs.

The sale of contraband tobacco is a growing problem throughout Ontario with an estimated one-in-three cigarettes purchased in the province being contraband.

“This awareness campaign is designed to remind our community members that contraband tobacco is illegal for a reason: the sale of these products helps fund organized crime, serving to make our communities less safe,” says Sean Sportun, Chair, Toronto Crime Stoppers.

Sportun adds, “Given the close connection between illegal cigarettes and its funding of criminal activity in our communities, it’s important to educate and empower members of the community to safely make a difference by calling Crime Stoppers. We offer guaranteed anonymity and cash rewards for tips on all criminal activity, including contraband or illegal tobacco.”

Please download the campaign creative here.

For additional reference to the issue of contraband tobacco, please watch this March 2018 W5: Smoke Rings episode.

For more information, please contact:

Sean Sportun, ICPS
Chair, Toronto Crime Stoppers
416-904-3805

Meaghan Gray, Corporate Communications, for Toronto Crime Stoppers