Tobacco product tampering unmasked

 A NUMBER stores and shops were found to be selling tampered tobacco products, a tobacco company in PNG said.

However, British American Tobacco PNG (BATPNG) assured its customers that “our fully-automated manufacturing process is protected against product tampering”.

“This is a fraudulent practice perpetrated by unscrupulous people targeting the tobacco businesses.

“These fraudsters tear off the polywrap (plastic seal) of the cigarette inner and remove a couple of packets.

“They remove the cigarettes and stuff the empty packet with old newspapers or cardboards. 

“Then, they attempt to reseal the packets and the inners with a clear tape.

General manager Michael Penrose said: “We stressed that our automated production process and quality control standards are designed to ensure product freshness and quality that meet global standards … this eliminates such fraudulent activities.”