It began innocently enough.  Our Snus Shop at SnusCENTRAL.com was running very low on  Lucky Strike Snus.  No big deal, the shipment must be delayed.

A report came over the wire that BuySnus.com was out of Lucky Strike too.

Finally,  an anonymous source forwarded me this ominous email which Northerner.com sent out to their customers who had ordered Lucky Strike:

Problems with Lucky Strike

Our supplier is temporarily out of Lucky Strike Portion and Lucky Strike White Portion so we have removed them from our site for now. We unfortunately don't know at this time when they will be back in stock, but will let you know as soon as they are. If you have ordered lucky strike in the last few weeks and haven't received it yet, please contact customer support. We need to know if you want to replace, wait or cancel the Lucky Strike in your order.

I made a satellite phone call to a "friend" in Scandinavia who I can't identify.  Her response?

BAT could be standardizing the cans into plastic (just done with RETRO), which would cheapen its appeal, IMHO. But removal from the market may imply cancellation.

Clearly something serious was amiss.  I don't personally know anyone at British American Tobacco (not sure why, just turns out that way) but that's why the SnusCENTRAL Intelligence Agency was created.  I jumped into a golf cart outside my inner sanctum at the SnusCENTRAL Command Bunker and took the five minute drive down the endless corridors to the SnusCIA Operations Center.

For once, they were ahead of me.  As soon as I entered, SnusCIA Director "S" approached and asked "Lucky Strike?".  I nodded yes.  He handed me a decoded dispatch from one of SnusCIA Operatives somewhere in Europe (sorry, can't be more specific.  Lives could be put in jeopardy).

Here's the redacted version of the dispatch:

RE:  Lucky Strike

FR:  [Redacted]

I heard from a [Redacted]  that BAT/ Lucky Strike has a new solution for used-portion storage in a new pack. Launching soon, and 'wait and see.' Remaining stocks were prioritized for Sweden and Norway retail customers.

One mystery solved; another opened.  A new solution for used-portion storage in a new pack?  What could that new solution be?  A new pack..not a new can or new container but a new "pack"?  Could be translation miscommunication but the implication is that something completely new in snus packaging is soon to appear.

WARNING: The SnusCIA also has unconfirmed information that BAT will be restricting sales of Lucky Strike to the United States as they don't own the rights to the brand in the United States.  The current US Brand owners are not producing any Lucky Strike Snus and only by their legal action could they stop BAT from allowing Swedish-based e-Stores to sell BAT Lucky Strike to Americans.   We hope this will not come to pass and is an unconfirmed rumor at this time;.  We will keep you updated.

If BAT would like share some details, the door is open.  Otherwise, we wait and hope to be pleasantly surprised.    Developing..............

Yours in Snus,

Mr. UNZ, aka,

LARRY WATERS
America's Leading Activist Snus Guru
Reporting From SnusCENTRAL.org

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