The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) has met with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to discuss the prevalence of illicit trade in consumer products such as, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents and counterfeit items.
Illegally traded items are also being looked at on a national level, via the Anti-Illicit Trade Task Force of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as well as the TTMA’s Anti-Illicit Trade Desk.
At the meeting held today, the TTMA said, Acting Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob and members of his team reinforced their commitment to undertake initiatives to tackle the issue of illicit trade.
"This initiative will be pioneered through the efforts of the Multi-Agency Task Force involving other agencies such as Customs and Excise Division, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Chemistry Food and Drug Division and the Tobacco Control Unit. Discussions entailed the need for strong public-private partnerships to ensure the public is adequately sensitized on all aspects of illicit trade, especially the negative impact on the economy," the TTMA said.
It added that furthermore, he noted that training and education remains an important tool for law enforcement to increase detection at ports of entry into T&T and retail outlets.
The TTMA statement said that Jacob indicated the innovative nature of perpetrators of illicit trade poses challenges for its eradication.
"However, it is critical that adequate efforts are made to reduce its occurrence in order to promote fair competition for legitimate manufacturers, importers and distributors."
The statement added that TTMA President Tricia Coosal highlighted the importance of collaboration and the Association’s willingness to lend support, where feasible and practical, to combat illicit trade activities in the interest of protecting genuine business operators.
She stated, “TTMA intends to continue its awareness drive, which includes a multitude of areas such as piracy, illegal smuggling of wildlife, tobacco and alcohol, pharmaceuticals, the prevalence of illicit trade in free-trade zones and counterfeiting.”
She further noted that the Association is committed to working closely with the Multi-Agency Task Force headed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Leon Haynes to provide necessary infrastructural resources and training to his team.
Also present at the meeting from the TTPS were Assistant Commissioner of Police Sharon Gomez-Cooper and Senior Superintendent of Police Joseph Chandool. Representatives from the TTMA included Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mahindra Ramdeen; Director Josiane Khan and Secretariat member Ilanka Manrique.
TTMA’s Illicit Trade Desk was formed in 2018 as part of the organization’s thrust to increase awareness and reduce instances of illicit trade activities in Trinidad and Tobago. The effects of illicit trade are numerous, including a loss of revenue to the Government, the provision of sub-standard goods, and the erosion of legitimate businesses (the latter effect affecting the jobs of many persons). TTMA recognizes the adversities associated with illicit trade, and supports initiatives geared towards eradicating these activities in Trinidad and Tobago.