Buyers of smuggled cigarettes are unaware that the money they forked out for the items contribute to the coffers of organised crimes which is detrimental to people of a country as well as globally.
Every bit of money spent would be ultimately linked to street crimes, drugs as well as terrorism.
Studies have shown a link between cigarette smuggling activities and organised crimes/terrorism. Organised crimes and terrorist groups draw their funds from cigarette smuggling activities due to its profitable market and its low risk.
Money obtained by sourcing, importing, and selling counterfeit cigarettes have been used to further terrorist activity and objectives.
For example, there were links between tobacco smuggling and the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Hizbollah.
In the South East Asia region, terrorist group Abu Sayyaf (ASG) was discovered to have begun involving itself in cross-border crimes including the smuggling of cigarettes.
University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) strategic and anti-terrorism research expert Associate Professor Dr Mohd Mizan Mohd Aslam said the information he had obtained showed that ASG was involved in various cross-border crimes such as firearms, drugs and cigarettes to fund their needs.
"ASG, which in the past two years depended on kidnapping to generate funds, had been affected badly by law enforcement in the Philippines and Malaysia.
"Therefore, they began their involvement in smuggling activities such as drugs, firearms and cigarettes. However, the smuggling of cigarettes is the most low risk of all.
"Based on the latest information, ASG is active in smuggling of cigarettes via the sea, especially in Sabah," he said.
He added that the government needed to look into the activities of cigarette smuggling, which has incurred losses of up to RM5 billion of the nation's revenue annually, in a wider context to curb it.
"The move to limit the transhipment process at certain ports is extremely effective, but now the syndicate has moved its direction towards the sea area. Therefore, the involvement of cross-border criminals, including terrorist groups, is a serious matter that must be tackled immediately," he said.
Meanwhile, former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the cigarette smuggling chain of activities cannot be solely performed and it needed an organised syndicate to run the illegal activities smoothly.
He said when illegal or criminal activities are done in groups, it leads with an organised crime syndicate.
He added it was possible that apart from cigarette smuggling, the same group of criminals were also involved in other illegal activities.
"When a particular group smuggles cigarettes, it is also possible that they are also smuggling other things such as firearms, drugs and other banned items.
"It is clear that this poses a threat to the country if the authorities do not join forces to eliminate such activities," he said.
Musa said the main reason for some people turning to smuggled cigarettes was due to its cheap price compared with registered cigarettes which were considered expensive.
This leads to the demand for the cigarettes and the syndicate would supply it, which is an easily understood economic concept, he said.
Musa also urged the government to extend the application of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA) and Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (POCA) to cover activities of organised crime syndicates involved in smuggling.
When asked if punishments imposed or the laws were too lenient for the smugglers and buyers of the smuggled cigarettes, Musa opined otherwise.
"I feel the law provisions are sufficient because smuggling cases are not only the sole responsibility of the Customs but other agencies must also assist.
"There needs to be cooperation forged between agencies if we want to eradicate such activities. Those guarding the borders are not just the Customs but also the Immigration Department as well as the police," he said.
When the various agencies come together, it enables sharing of information and integrated action to be taken which leads to the elimination of the illegal activities, apart from identifying the culprits to be arrested and action to be taken.
Musa also urged the authorities to conduct frequent checks at grocery shops, especially those run by foreigners, many of whom are involved at the end of the supply chain before smuggled cigarettes reach consumers.
"We must take action against these operators. In Sabah and Sarawak, there are loads of smuggled cigarettes being sold and many are involved in it.
"I feel the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry must also act on this matter as it involves the sales of prohibited items to consumers.
"This is why I say we need the cooperation of all agencies, including the ministry that could monitor the situation. Check on all these shops and take stern action if there are offences," he said.
Musa also felt that buyers of smuggled cigarettes were endangering their own health as there was no safe determinant level in its contents.
"Smokers of contraband cigarettes are putting themselves at risk of damaging their health. They should be careful and bear the consequences if they smoke it," he said.