Trafficking in untaxed cigarettes in the European Union is the subject of an academic study. Can readers in this field of crime prevention help?
The object of this EU-funded project, ‘Assessing Organised Crime’, is to provide EU member states and institutions with a format for standardising collection and use of data on organised crime. The study is to look mainly at the trafficking in untaxed cigarettes in the European Union. The man behind the project, Dr Rob Hornsby, Department of Law, University of Durham told Professional Security that one aspect of this study is to examine the role of private security firms in prevention, tracing and tracking, information gathering, advising and control about illegal drugs in the UK (such as the bulk level smuggling of revenue evaded cigarettes). He says: “As of yet I am unaware of any known and ‘open’ activities involving private security firms that inform the government and policy makers (and perhaps law enforcement agencies) with data regarding the ‘state of play’ of the upper-end of illicit drug markets in the UK. However, I may be wrong. “
In a word, the aim is to provide a tentative picture of the trafficking in contraband cigarettes. The researchers are also looking to talk to the tobacco industry, transportation and even figures in the black market.
Who to contact
Dr Rob Hornsby, Department of Law, University of Durham, 50 North Bailey, Durham City DH1 3ET. Telephone 0191 3346222 or e-mail [email protected]
