Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ChinaTobacco
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NEW: #ChinaTobacco, the world’s largest cigarette company, has been credited with turning Zimbabwe into Africa’s top tobacco producer.
But farmers there say the company’s contract model has left them drowning in debt.
Our investigation w/ @NewsHawksLive occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
But farmers there say the company’s contract model has left them drowning in debt.
Our investigation w/ @NewsHawksLive occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
John Ruvanga jumped at the chance to become a contract farmer for #ChinaTobacco’s Zimbabwe subsidiary, Tian Ze.
But he struggled to pay for the expensive products he had to buy from Tian Ze’s suppliers in $. In a few years, he had lost everything. 2/
But he struggled to pay for the expensive products he had to buy from Tian Ze’s suppliers in $. In a few years, he had lost everything. 2/
Much of what is left of farmers’ income is sapped by a currency system run by Zimbabwe’s central bank.
By converting their $ earnings into local currencies at overvalued rates, the bank holds on to badly needed foreign currency. MPs say the system is illegal. 3/
By converting their $ earnings into local currencies at overvalued rates, the bank holds on to badly needed foreign currency. MPs say the system is illegal. 3/
NEW: OCCRP and @riseprojectro🇷🇴 reveal the first public evidence tying an official at the world’s largest tobacco company to organized crime in Europe.
The story centers around a shipping container filled with junk to elude customs. #ChinaTobacco 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
The story centers around a shipping container filled with junk to elude customs. #ChinaTobacco 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
How The Scheme Worked:
➡️ On paper: 17 tons of Chinese cigarettes made in the EU were sent to Libya, thus avoiding excise taxes.
➡️ In reality: They were offloaded to be sold in Europe. 17 tons of junk were sent to Libya in an identical container. 2/ cdn.occrp.org/projects/great…
➡️ On paper: 17 tons of Chinese cigarettes made in the EU were sent to Libya, thus avoiding excise taxes.
➡️ In reality: They were offloaded to be sold in Europe. 17 tons of junk were sent to Libya in an identical container. 2/ cdn.occrp.org/projects/great…
The people behind this scheme included:
➡️ Three smugglers with links to an Italian organized crime group.
➡️ An executive at China Tobacco’s European branch: China Tobacco International Europe Company (CTIEC).
CTIEC makes some of Europe’s most smuggled brands. 3/
➡️ Three smugglers with links to an Italian organized crime group.
➡️ An executive at China Tobacco’s European branch: China Tobacco International Europe Company (CTIEC).
CTIEC makes some of Europe’s most smuggled brands. 3/
NEW: A relatively new tobacco company in Brazil has doubled profit in the past year. But the growth of this firm has come with a human cost.
OCCRP and @TheInterceptBr reveal labor rights abuses and debt traps in Brazil’s tobacco industry #ChinaTobacco 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
OCCRP and @TheInterceptBr reveal labor rights abuses and debt traps in Brazil’s tobacco industry #ChinaTobacco 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
China Brasil Tobacos Exportadora (CBT) is a joint venture between the Brazilian subsidiaries of a US firm and China Tobacco.
Though China Tobacco has evaded the scrutiny faced by its US-owned partner, including lawsuits from labor rights defenders. 2/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
Though China Tobacco has evaded the scrutiny faced by its US-owned partner, including lawsuits from labor rights defenders. 2/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
A farm contracted by one of the firms that owns CBT was found using "slave labor." The firm was held partly responsible, but the penalties were later removed under new legislation.
In another case, workers were forced to resign after revealing their pregnancies to bosses. 3/
In another case, workers were forced to resign after revealing their pregnancies to bosses. 3/
NEW: #ChinaTobacco has exported hundreds of millions of cigarettes to Ukraine even though none of its brands are legally sold there.
One of the buyers is a firm owned by an ex-border official with ties to the president.
From OCCRP and @kyivpost 🇺🇦 1/
occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
One of the buyers is a firm owned by an ex-border official with ties to the president.
From OCCRP and @kyivpost 🇺🇦 1/
occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
Leaked trade documents helped reporters identify Ukrainian companies that bought cigarettes from China Tobacco’s factory in Romania, which has flooded Ukraine with 500m+ cigarettes over the past seven years.
Three of the buyers are under investigation for smuggling. 2/
Three of the buyers are under investigation for smuggling. 2/
One firm under investigation, we reveal, is owned by Vadym Sliusariev, a former border official with ties to Ukraine’s president.
Sliusariev was recently accused of smuggling by the former president of Georgia. 3/
Sliusariev was recently accused of smuggling by the former president of Georgia. 3/
NEW: Latin America is awash in illegal cigarettes, many of which were made by the world’s biggest tobacco company: #ChinaTobacco
How did they get there? Major suppliers, we reveal, are in Panama.
Our latest with @cuestion_p 🇨🇴 and @ConcolonPanama 🇵🇦 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
How did they get there? Major suppliers, we reveal, are in Panama.
Our latest with @cuestion_p 🇨🇴 and @ConcolonPanama 🇵🇦 1/ occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
Reporters reveal that the China National Tobacco Corporation — a state enterprise known as “China Tobacco” — is connected to a network of Panama-based companies that have shipped huge amounts of its cigarettes to Latin American countries where there is no legal market. 2/
Why would a tobacco company want its cigarettes sold on the black market?
It’s a tactic straight from the Big Tobacco playbook: allow your brands to flood illicit markets, then lobby to legalize them. China Tobacco is just following suit, according to experts. 3/
It’s a tactic straight from the Big Tobacco playbook: allow your brands to flood illicit markets, then lobby to legalize them. China Tobacco is just following suit, according to experts. 3/
NEW: Together with 12 partners, we reveal how #ChinaTobacco 🇨🇳 — the world’s largest tobacco company — has flooded black markets worldwide 🚬
Ethically dubious and, in some cases, outright illegal practices are often involved — especially smuggling.
occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
Ethically dubious and, in some cases, outright illegal practices are often involved — especially smuggling.
occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
What is China Tobacco?
It’s a Chinese state-owned conglomerate that produces 44% of the world’s cigarettes. Most are smoked domestically, but int’l sales have surged since it jumped on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2015.
Read this FAQ for more: occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
It’s a Chinese state-owned conglomerate that produces 44% of the world’s cigarettes. Most are smoked domestically, but int’l sales have surged since it jumped on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2015.
Read this FAQ for more: occrp.org/en/loosetobacc…
Since China Tobacco went global, its brands — like Regina or Marble — have popped up around the world, including in countries where it's illegal to sell them.
The cigarettes are often made in factories outside of China with tobacco sourced from farms abroad as well.
The cigarettes are often made in factories outside of China with tobacco sourced from farms abroad as well.
