Dear Members,
I have just submitted a confidential online report to Crimestoppers via Stop Illicit of an illegal tobacco seller in your electorate. This seller is ripping off taxpayers, undermining a Smokefree New Zealand and enriching the gangs peddling it.
I ask you to raise with your party and with Ministers, the need for real action against those selling illegal tobacco. Whether it’s under the counter at a dairy or online with the likes of Facebook or on social media. The law must be enforced and that’s with real penalties that have real consequences.
We need to make illegal tobacco too hot to handle.
If we don’t it’s going to be like Australia where the gangs are in charge of smoking policy. I don’t want to seem taxpayers losing hundreds of millions not the gangs and hope you agree because, right now, no one seems to care.
By reporting it in your electorate you know there is a problem and the need to massively increase penalties and to take real action against those selling illegally.
Thank you,
A concerned constituent