Up to $2K offered for illegal tobacco tips resulting in arrest

Crimestoppers kicked off a new campaign outlining the negative impacts of buying, selling and smoking illegal tobacco in Alberta.

As the illegal tobacco trade continues to grow rapidly throughout western Canada, Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for tips that result in an arrest as part of its anti-illicit tobacco campaign with RCMP and Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC).

“Illicit tobacco is often misunderstood as a low-level issue, but it is frequently linked to organized crime and broader community harm,” said Vivianna Botticelli, interim board chair of Alberta Crime Stoppers, at a press conference in Edmonton Tuesday. “This campaign is about helping Albertans understand that the price tag isn’t the real cost.”

Officials say the illegal tobacco trade is essentially funding organized crime directly, allowing them to fund other criminal endeavours.

Botticelli said tips that result in an arrest can qualify for a reward starting at $150 and going up to $2,000.

Over the last five years, Alberta has seen a rise in contraband tobacco trafficking, and as a result, there has been more than a $500-million drop in tobacco tax revenue, said Dave Berry of AGLC.

“That is a loss of $500 million that could have been spent on government programs and services such as health care, public safety and essential services that all Albertans rely on,” said Berry, adding that trafficking illegal tobacco can also harm Alberta businesses by causing revenue loss for retailers.

Mounties say most illegal tobacco products in Alberta come from Ontario.