 The organization worked closely with TI [the "Tobacco Institute", an industry front organization disbanded in 1998] in carrying out this mission.Tobacco companies because of their participation in National Cancer Institute Tobacco Working Group opposed to funding of such projects as cessation tobacco programs and also withheld knowledge about the effects of cigarettes.The conspiracy was discovered in November 1998, as part of the Master Settlement Agreement between the U.S. tobacco industry and various states' attorneys general.