Erik J. Schelzig

Tobacco firms used suspected drug traffickers, EU lawsuit claims

A European Union lawsuit against two major U.S. tobacco companies says RJR Nabisco had dealings with suspected narcotics traffickers in Spain and money-laundering suspects in the Caribbean, and claims that smuggling activities by Philip Morris "have enabled drug lords to launder their illicit profits."
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Tobacco companies linked to criminal organizations in lucrative cigarette smuggling

A year-long investigation by the ICIJ shows that tobacco company officials at BAT, Philip Morris, and R.J. Reynolds have worked closely with companies and individuals directly connected to organized crime in Hong Kong, Canada, Colombia, Italy and the United States.
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