BBC Investigation Uncovers Evidence of Bribery at British American Tobacco

Panorama has exposed British American Tobacco plc (BAT) for illegally paying politicians and civil servants in countries in East Africa. The payments were revealed when a whistleblower shared hundreds of secret documents with the programme.

BAT is a British multinational tobacco company headquartered in London. It is the world’s second-largest tobacco company by sales. Its brands are Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Kent, Pall Mall, Kool, Benson & Hedges and Rothmans. BAT is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Its Chief Executive is Nicandro Durante.

Paul Hopkins, who worked for BAT, a British company, in Kenya for 13 years, said he had begun paying bribes after being told it was the cost of doing business in Africa.

BAT told the BBC: “The truth is that we do not and will not tolerate corruption, no matter where it takes place.”

Panorama’s The Secret Bribes of Big Tobacco is on BBC One at 830pm tonight.

On HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver exposed the misbehaviour of Big Tobacco in February this year. The Tobacco Atlas is an excellent resource to understand the impact of Big Tobacco.