Pasir Mas hottest spot for contraband cigarettes

2009/11/03

PASIR MAS, Tues: The Pasir Mas district has been identified as the hottest spot for illegal cigarette trade in the country, according to the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM).

Its chief executive officer, Shaik Abbas Ibrahim, said most of the cigarettes were smuggled into the country on river and sea routes.

"According to the international independent research company, Tylor Nelson Soffres, Pasir Mas is a hot spot for the illegal cigarette trade," he told reporters after delivering a talk in conjunction with the Anti-Illegal Sales of Tobacco Products Campaign 2009 here today.

He said the sale of illegal cigarettes could also affect the purchase of dried tobacco leaves by cigarette manufacturers.

He also said that most of the illegal transactions were done in remote areas. -- BERNAMA