Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia
Background The challenges associated with a historical pattern of interaction between the State and the territory, predominance of informal cigarette sales, corruption and well-organized mafias, create favorable conditions for illicit trade of cigarettes in Colombia. Guajira encompasses all this ele...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2018-03-01
|
| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Characterization-of-cigarrete-smuggling-distribution-in-Colombia,84596,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1811331769333448704 |
|---|---|
| author | Blanca Llorente Diana Díaz Luis Fernando de Angulo Roberto Iglesias Maria Clara Ávila |
| author_facet | Blanca Llorente Diana Díaz Luis Fernando de Angulo Roberto Iglesias Maria Clara Ávila |
| author_sort | Blanca Llorente |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
The challenges associated with a historical pattern of interaction between the State and the territory, predominance of informal cigarette sales, corruption and well-organized mafias, create favorable conditions for illicit trade of cigarettes in Colombia. Guajira encompasses all this elements and it is the most traditional smuggling hub. The study also includes the cities of Cúcuta (close to the Venezuelan border with 23% penetration of illicit cigarettes), and Bogotá (with the largest number of smokers) This study identifies actors in the illicit trade distribution chain (retail and wholesale), their behaviour, incentives and interactions.
Methods
Passive participant research (e.g. buying cigarettes), semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Fieldwork performed between July - November 2017. Selected actors include authorities, smugglers, travelers in border areas, street vendors and owners of small businesses.
Results
Preliminary findings obtained from interviews reveal three significative changes in Guajira: military and police forces have rearranged priorities in the territory as a result of the dynamics of the peace process; communities acknowledge the need of State action to preserve order, but smuggling continues to be the exception (e.g. reports of violent incidents between communities and police after seizure operatives); traditional leaders' profile is undergoing transformations. Economic slowdown, and dererioriating environmental conditions are mentioned as driving forces for a renewed presence of smuggling activity in the region. Findings reveal presence of minors in smuggling activities. In Bogotá street vendors (the main distribution channel for cigarettes) after the tax increase are more reluctant to sell full packs.
Conclusions
Changes along the distribution chain are bringing new risks and opportunities for an effective control of illicit trade flows. It is necessary to explore interventions that address institutional weaknesses, and the circumstances of vulnerable actors to develop sustainable policies to eliminate illicit trade in Colombia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:25:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4fa7c1005255434bb1d3b11d6e096685 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:25:44Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-4fa7c1005255434bb1d3b11d6e0966852022-12-22T02:39:45ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252018-03-0116110.18332/tid/8459684596Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in ColombiaBlanca Llorente0Diana Díaz1Luis Fernando de Angulo2Roberto Iglesias3Maria Clara Ávila4Fundación Anaás, ColombiaDiversidad Rural, ColombiaCREER-IHRB Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables, ColombiaFundación Anaás, ColombiaFundación Anaás, ColombiaBackground The challenges associated with a historical pattern of interaction between the State and the territory, predominance of informal cigarette sales, corruption and well-organized mafias, create favorable conditions for illicit trade of cigarettes in Colombia. Guajira encompasses all this elements and it is the most traditional smuggling hub. The study also includes the cities of Cúcuta (close to the Venezuelan border with 23% penetration of illicit cigarettes), and Bogotá (with the largest number of smokers) This study identifies actors in the illicit trade distribution chain (retail and wholesale), their behaviour, incentives and interactions. Methods Passive participant research (e.g. buying cigarettes), semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. Fieldwork performed between July - November 2017. Selected actors include authorities, smugglers, travelers in border areas, street vendors and owners of small businesses. Results Preliminary findings obtained from interviews reveal three significative changes in Guajira: military and police forces have rearranged priorities in the territory as a result of the dynamics of the peace process; communities acknowledge the need of State action to preserve order, but smuggling continues to be the exception (e.g. reports of violent incidents between communities and police after seizure operatives); traditional leaders' profile is undergoing transformations. Economic slowdown, and dererioriating environmental conditions are mentioned as driving forces for a renewed presence of smuggling activity in the region. Findings reveal presence of minors in smuggling activities. In Bogotá street vendors (the main distribution channel for cigarettes) after the tax increase are more reluctant to sell full packs. Conclusions Changes along the distribution chain are bringing new risks and opportunities for an effective control of illicit trade flows. It is necessary to explore interventions that address institutional weaknesses, and the circumstances of vulnerable actors to develop sustainable policies to eliminate illicit trade in Colombia.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Characterization-of-cigarrete-smuggling-distribution-in-Colombia,84596,0,2.htmlWCTOH |
| spellingShingle | Blanca Llorente Diana Díaz Luis Fernando de Angulo Roberto Iglesias Maria Clara Ávila Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia Tobacco Induced Diseases WCTOH |
| title | Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia |
| title_full | Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia |
| title_short | Characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in Colombia |
| title_sort | characterization of cigarrete smuggling distribution in colombia |
| topic | WCTOH |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Characterization-of-cigarrete-smuggling-distribution-in-Colombia,84596,0,2.html |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT blancallorente characterizationofcigarretesmugglingdistributionincolombia AT dianadiaz characterizationofcigarretesmugglingdistributionincolombia AT luisfernandodeangulo characterizationofcigarretesmugglingdistributionincolombia AT robertoiglesias characterizationofcigarretesmugglingdistributionincolombia AT mariaclaraavila characterizationofcigarretesmugglingdistributionincolombia |