A press release issued by the USA Illegal Trade Alliance (USA-IT) following their second annual national summit calls on Congress to implement new policies to combat illegal trade, including counterfeiting, smuggling, organized retail theft, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
During the summit's opening ceremony, US Congressman Bennie Thompson stated that "illegal trade not only harms our business and economy, but also poses health and safety risks to consumers and even undermines our security. When the government and private sector work together, we can be more effective in combating illegal trade. This is to protect all of America.
Kristin Reif, Director of Government Relations at PMI International, spoke at the summit, stating, "After over a decade of fighting against these organizations, I have witnessed firsthand the severe consequences of seemingly harmless illegal tobacco and nicotine products such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. But criminals not only traffic one commodity, they traffic anything that can earn them a dollar, whether it be luxury wallets or drugs, even human trafficking. This is why USA-IT exists. It brings together many stakeholders so that we can bring this pervasive issue to the attention of legislators and better address the threat of illicit trade.
The summit comprises five panel discussions involving representatives from corporations, law enforcement agencies, academia, and policy experts.
USA-IT was established in June 2021 and is now operating in 15 states facing issues related to illegal trade. The organization provides information and training programs for local officials and law enforcement agencies, while also raising public awareness about issues related to illegal trade.
2FIRSTS will continue to provide updates on this topic, with further information available on the '2FIRSTS APP'. Scan the QR code below to download the app.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
