There were at least seven instances of illicit cigarettes and alcohol being seized by officials in 2024. This according to Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon, who noted that there are more than 10 brands of fake or counterfeit cigarettes on the market.
Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon says Government continues to push forward to combat the trade of illicit items, including cigarettes and alcohol.
Speaking to reporters at a tour of the West Indian Tobacco Company (WITCO) on Friday, she said through the Ministry’s Anti-Illicit Trade Task Force, some progress has been made.
“There’s been some measure measure of success via the education campaign to ensure our citizens do what’s right and and choose the legitimate brands. But also there have been some seizures and I’m told that last year, in 2024, there might have been about six or seven seizures, even though you may not have seen them in the press. I think there has been some activity to ensure that we get these illegal products out of the marketplace, but we’re going to have to continue to put some emphasis on it.”
She said though, there are still some issues that need to be ironed out.
“For instance, when you do seize this amount of cigarettes, where do you put them? Because after that is that this person ought to be charged also. But so those are things that are still to be ironed out by the task force.”
In November 2024, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Randall Karim noted that based on available data the illicit trade of tobacco accounts for approximately 5%-10% of the market share, while in 2023, authorities seized $1.5 million in substandard and falsified pharmaceuticals and quarantined another $10 million worth of products.
Minister Gopee-Scoon said combating illicit trade continues to be a major priority for the Government.
“It is a significant issue and it is so right throughout the region. And so we continue to do what we have to do. We set up this task force embracing a number of agencies and ministries. The Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry coaches that the equivalent secretary in the Ministry of National Security. Tthe police is involved as well, so there are several arms and we’re very focused on the results and we report to cabinet annually as well. And so we’re just about doing our report.”
Minister Gopee-Scoon assured that emphasis will continue to be put on combating illicit trade for the benefit of local legitimate manufacturers, so that their legitimate brand will continue to survive and compete in the marketplace.