Alberta Crime Stoppers is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has launched a new campaign aimed at curbing the sale of illegal tobacco.
Officials say the sale of illegal tobacco might not seem like a greatly harmful crime, but it can impact communities, “in ways that may not be immediately apparent”.
The RCMP, which hosted Alberta Crime Stoppers representatives for a celebration on Tuesday, says illegal cigarettes might not follow health and safety standards. Mounties add that they can harm local businesses that are operating legitimately, and the funds received from the illegal sales of tobacco could go toward other, more harmful illicit activities.
Police say in 2021, only 12 charges related to the possession or distribution of illicit tobacco were laid in the province. Mounties report that in 2025, there was an over 1,000 per cent increase in the number of charges laid, with close to 150 charges issued.
“People might think that it isn’t that big of a deal, that it’s just a few cheap cigarettes here or there, that it doesn’t hurt anyone,” says Chief Super Intendent Gary Graham, Officer in Charge of Alberta RCMP Community and Safety and Well-being.
“What they don’t realize is that these products are frequently part of larger operations. The money that comes from the sale of these illegal cigarettes goes directly to the pockets of large-scale organized criminal enterprises who use that money to fund their other crimes.”
Vivianna Botticelli, interim board chair of Alberta Crime Stoppers, says the Anti-illicit Tobacco Campaign is about educating Albertans about the impacts of illegal sales, as well as reminding residents about the role of Crime Stoppers.
“Crime Stoppers provides a safe, anonymous way to report suspicious activity they may see in their communities,” Botticelli states.
Dave Berry, the executive vice president of public engagement and chief regulatory officer of Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, says in the last five years, Alberta has seen a jump in contraband tobacco activity.
“During that same time, we’ve experienced a drop of more than $500 million in tobacco tax revenue,” Berry notes.
“AGLC is proud to work in collaboration with the Alberta government, with law enforcement partners and with the ongoing support of the legitimate tobacco industry to investigate and pursue those involved in the contraband tobacco industry in the province.”
Alberta Crime Stoppers works with the RCMP by encouraging crime reporting. Albertans who spot any suspicious activity or have information to share can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously to keep their personal information private.
More information is available at the Alberta Crime Stoppers website.
