KUALA LUMPUR: The incidence of illicit cigarettes for the period of June to August dropped to 36.7% from 39.7% recorded in the March to May period this year as the authorities stepped up their enforcement and charged the offenders.
Despite the decline, the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) still view the level as critical, according to the latest Illicit Cigarettes Study results released on Wednesday, Dec 29
CMTM chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said the decline showed that the intensified enforcement efforts such as continuous raids, especially at retail level and prosecuting illicit cigarettes traders by the country's law enforcement agencies were beginning to bear results.
'Now, illicit cigarettes traders are being charged in court instead of just being compounded, which was the practice previously.
'This is a step in the right direction and we hope that the deterrence element will be further enhanced by the courts with custodial sentences,' he said.
Shaik Abbas said despite a decrease in illicit cigarettes incidence, the figure of 36.7% was still considered critical.
Despite the decline, the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) still view the level as critical, according to the latest Illicit Cigarettes Study results released on Wednesday, Dec 29
CMTM chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said the decline showed that the intensified enforcement efforts such as continuous raids, especially at retail level and prosecuting illicit cigarettes traders by the country's law enforcement agencies were beginning to bear results.
'Now, illicit cigarettes traders are being charged in court instead of just being compounded, which was the practice previously.
'This is a step in the right direction and we hope that the deterrence element will be further enhanced by the courts with custodial sentences,' he said.
Shaik Abbas said despite a decrease in illicit cigarettes incidence, the figure of 36.7% was still considered critical.
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