Experts bring Canadian perspective to global fight against illicit trade

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada has become a global hotspot for illicit trade, fueling organized crime, gangs, and other illegal activities. This week, a new global initiative was launched on the margins of the 8th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH2026) in Leeds, U.K., bringing together international experts to examine the far-reaching impact of illicit trade on community health and safety. 

Rothmans, Benson & Hedges (RBH) is proud to have contributed to the discussions of this important initiative. Among the Canadian participants, Danny Fournier, Director of Illicit Trade Prevention, and Dr. Pascal Michel, Director of Science-Policy at RBH, shared perspectives specific to the illicit nicotine trade in Canada and highlighted key challenges, best practices, and policy gaps requiring greater attention.

"Illicit trade is an increasingly complex and global issue," said Fournier. "There is no question Canada has emerged as a hotspot that has much to contribute to this international conversation." 

Fournier and Michel have also co-authored the Canadian market insight, "Counterfeit and contraband: at the intersection of public safety and public health," in the Global Legal Post's 2026 Anti-counterfeiting Law Guide. Their contribution examines Canada's illicit nicotine market and the need for stronger coordination across enforcement, public health, digital policy and the private sector.

The scale of the online illicit market has been growing at shocking rates in Canada. Since 2019, RBH's online monitoring program alone has helped remove more than 83,000 unauthorized advertisements for illicit tobacco, vaping products and nicotine pouches. Over the past two years, the program has also identified and removed more than 32,000 illegal advertisements or offers for counterfeit ZYN products connected to the Canadian market. 

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

"Counterfeit and contraband products create both public safety and public health risks, and the problem is growing, not shrinking," said Michel. "Criminal networks are highly adaptive to opportunities created in the marketplace. At the same time, the consequences of illicit trade are not experienced equally. Some communities and populations bear a disproportionate burden yet are often overlooked in policy discussions and enforcement strategies. By sharing evidence, experiences, and innovative approaches internationally, we can better understand what works and address this challenge more effectively."

The 2026 Anti-counterfeiting Law Guide will also be highlighted at the Anti-Counterfeiting World Law Summit in London on September 29, including a panel discussion titled "Around the World in IP: The Escalating Global Counterfeiting Challenge." 

RBH continues to work with law enforcement and other stakeholders to help disrupt the importation, sale and distribution of illicit and counterfeit nicotine products and has called for stronger coordination to address Canada's growing illicit market. 

About Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. 

Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. (RBH), an affiliate of Philip Morris International Inc., is one of Canada's leading tobacco and nicotine companies and is working to deliver a smoke-free future. RBH is committed to sustainability and creating a positive impact on communities, the economy, and the environment. Currently, RBH employs nearly 800 people across the country, with its headquarters in Toronto and a factory in Québec City. Discover more about the company at https://www.rbhinc.ca/ and stay updated on RBH's transformation by following Twitter and LinkedIn. 

SOURCE Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.

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