UK
A UK investigation has found that counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco are being advertised and sold through Facebook, reported the BBC. Counterfeits made out to be genuine brands are being sold by people using fake profiles on Facebook’s marketplace pages and offer hand delivery.
The cheap tobacco and cigarettes were found to contain double the lead content and a third more cadmium than genuine products.
Undercover BBC reporters arranged to meet a seller in Tunbridge Wells and purchased items marketed as Mayfair cigarettes and Amber Leaf rolling tobacco. TI, which makes the real Mayfair and Amber Leaf products, confirmed the items were counterfeit.
“Over the past year, JTI’s actions have led to the removal of just under 3,000 listings relating to the illegal sale of its brands on [the social media site],” said the company. “These products have an estimated street value of [more than] £400,000.”
Facebook said content in breach of its commerce policy was always removed, and that it investigates any reported prohibited activity and it had removed the post advertising the counterfeit tobacco.
Almost identical adverts for tobacco have since been placed on other buy and sell pages, using different profiles.