Applegreen Director Joe Barrett and Topaz Marketing Director Paul Candon have teamed up with lobby group Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS) to launch Stop Smuggling, Ireland’s first public awareness campaign about fuel and tobacco smuggling.
Fuel and tobacco smuggling is believed to cost the Exchequer €390 million a year, and the campaign aims to spread the message that buying goods and products illegally puts Irish businesses and jobs at risk, and supports organised crime.
Applegreen’s Joe Barrett said: “Applegreen employs 1,600 people and the impact of the black market is one of the key issues for our business. We want the public to show their support for responsible businesses that employ tens of thousands of people and provide essential services in communities across Ireland.”
Paul Candon, Marketing Director, Topaz added: “If it looks like too much of a good deal, then it probably is and should be avoided. Supporting fuel laundering and tobacco smuggling is bad for everyone except criminals and we’re calling on the public not to buy on the black market. Please take the time to log on to StopSmuggling.ie - let’s work together to Stop Smuggling.”
The campaign features a ‘black market’ clock on the StopSmuggling.ie website, which counts up the annual loss to the Exchequer on a second by second basis, and includes the contact details you need to report suspicious activity.
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Karis Copp