Mr. Phil McLester at the Public Safety and National Security Committee

On May 7th, 2008. See this statement in context.

May 7th, 2008 / 4:50 p.m.

Director, Excise Duties and Taxes Division, Excise and GST/HST Rulings Directorate, Legislative Policy and Regulatory Affairs Branch, Canada Revenue Agency

Phil McLester

Actually I don't know that I'd want to take credit for knowing a great deal about contraband tobacco products since we generally treat the legal tobacco market. I can say that the counterfeit cigarettes are just a portion of the contraband, as we've heard from the members of the enforcement agencies today. It is a production. There are the baggies, which are the 100% complete contraband, and of course there's under-reporting of legal tobacco products. So they all take up a portion of the contraband that you mention.

I would defer to my colleagues to give you that definition.

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