BAT: Criminal syndicates in tobacco industry 'protected by the powerful

Cigarette manufacturer British American Tobacco (BAT) believes criminal syndicates dominating the industry may be protected by the powerful. 

It said this could be the reason why the illicit trade of cigarettes is hard to clamp down on in the country. 

The company plans to shut down its local manufacturing plant at the end of the year, after five decades of operating in South Africa.

Speaking to 702 earlier, spokesperson Johnny Moloto said the company had done everything possible to avoid closure and the associated job losses. 

He added that illicit cigarettes now account for 75 percent of the market, a situation he described as “unimaginable” in most industries. 

“Maybe there are bigger forces at hand here, that these guys are protected, they're protected by very powerful people, because it's unimaginable that in any other industry, you would have a similar situation and you would not act against it. But because, you know, tobacco is probably an easier target and nobody will stand up for tobacco and defend tobacco except us in the industry.