Nearly $2 million worth of fake cigarettes—38,000 cartons—were seized in Ontario on August 6, leading to unlawful possession charges against four Canadian men.
In addition to the loss of taxes to local economies, officials warn that counterfeit cigarettes are particularly worrisome. In a scientific study of counterfeit cigarettes in 2004, Dr. Ed Stephens, a geoscientist at the University of St. Andrews, discovered sky-high levels of cancer causing heavy metals such as cadmium, and arsenic. “The results were unexpected and worrying,” said Dr. Stephens of the findings. “Almost all counterfeit [cigarettes] are seriously contaminated with heavy metals.”