Tobacco smugglers to face jail

People caught smuggling tobacco in future can expect to be  jailed for up to ten years.

Legislation, just introduced into Federal Parliament will create a specific new offence of smuggling tobacco, or conveying or possessing smuggled tobacco

The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, said: “The Government is proud of its world-leading action to combat smoking.

“ This legislation reinforces our commitment to that cause,” she added.

“Current penalties for illegal tobacco importation are very low compared to other serious instances of fraud against the Commonwealth,” Ms Roxon said.

“This new offence means tobacco smugglers face prison time for the first time,” Ms Roxon said.

Meanwhile, a new study has linked second hand smoking with increased obesity and Diabetes 2.

A study of over 6,000 people presented this week at the US Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas showed that adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke, have higher rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes than  those who are not exposed to it.

Study co-author Dr The study’s co-author, Theodore Friedman of Charles R. Drew University, Los Angeles, warned of the consequences.

He said: “More effort needs to be made to reduce exposure of individuals to secondhand smoke.”