National Troopers Coalition Applauds FDA Consideration of New Black Market Tobacco Study

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a statement issued today, the National Troopers Coalition urged the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to follow up on a new study about whether a ban of menthol cigarettes would significantly increase smuggling of contraband tobacco.  The panel is meeting in Washington, DC today.  The following statement can be attributed to Michael Edes, Chairman of the National Troopers Coalition.

"According to a news story, the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee of the FDA will hear results of a study about the size of a tobacco 'black market' that would be enhanced and made more profitable if menthol cigarettes were banned.   The National Troopers Coalition believes these issues deserve serious consideration by this advisory committee.  Significant black markets exist today – troopers and highway patrol officers are continuing to make arrests of this contraband.  Black markets are not a figment of imagination, especially given the large black market in Canadian provinces.

"Tobacco smuggling is a serious problem confronting law enforcement.  The National Troopers Coalition would like regulators and the advisory panel to fully examine the impact further regulation of menthol could have on efforts to interdict illicit smuggling efforts.   Tobacco smuggling enforcement is extremely difficult and further regulations could place detrimental demands on our already strained enforcement resources."

SOURCE National Troopers Coalition