IN reply to your Comment (LET, July 28) about tobacco smuggling, does not asking people to snoop and sneak (your words) on their neighbours, with rewards for informers, remind you of Hitler's Nazi Germany?
Secondly, the government's coffers are overflowing with cash hoarded in case we need to wage another massive bombing campaign against some country or other. Lots of this money could be spent on the NHS, on schools or what have you.
Thirdly, and probably most importantly, the government know how to stop the smuggling of tobacco and booze at a stroke. that is to cut the level of taxation on these items to the same level as it is in the other EU countries that they are being smuggled from.
Hence, no profit, no smuggling.
Until then, if people are offered these products at a fraction of the shop price, they are going to buy them -- that's human nature.
Smuggling has been going on for centuries. As long as there is a large amount of duty to be paid on something, then someone will make money by smuggling it it.
As for the connection between smuggling a few fags and hard drugs, I don't think that there is a lot of evidence to support that.
JACK N HEYS, Commercial Street, Loveclough.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article