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Filtered by Illicit Trade — 95 articles

Nicola Sudan

29 June 2025

3 min read

EU Illicit Cigarettes Surge to Highest Level Since 2015 – Huge Tax Variations not Helping

KPMG has released its latest annual study on illicit cigarettes in Europe, commissioned by Philip Morris Products SA, and covering 38 European markets (including 27 EU member states). The study shows that while overall illicit consumption in Europe grew marginally in 2024 (by 0.2%), consumption in the EU27 soared by 10.8% to reach 9.2% of the total market – the highest level in nearly a decade.

Excise Products Illicit Trade Reports & Studies

Nicola Sudan

8 June 2025

6 min read

South Africa Illicit Trade Report Highlights Improvements… but Mainly Weaknesses

The Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) is a non- governmental organisation consisting of corporations and select trade associations within a range of sectors, including tobacco, alcohol, agri-foods, petroleum, and pharmaceuticals. It has released a report titled ‘South Africa’s Fight Against Illicit Trade – A Strategic Review’. The report reveals that while the country has improved its cross-border enforcement and customs capacity, as well as controls over the informal economy, it has performed significantly less well in other areas with regard to anti-illicit trade efforts.

Illicit Trade

Francisco Mandiola

29 May 2025

5 min read

Chile Health Service Claims Illicit Drugs Being Sold Via Authorised Distributors

A recent report by the Chilean Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP), the national regulatory authority for pharmaceutical products, has sparked the interest of several local news outlets, due to the report’s surprising conclusions regarding the illicit trade of pharmaceuticals in the nation.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

5 May 2025

4 min read

Drug Counterfeiting in India Exposes Vulnerability of QR Codes to Cloning

India has recently rolled back key measures for pharmaceutical traceability – possibly due to the increasingly widespread copying of genuine QR codes onto counterfeit drugs.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

2 April 2025

3 min read

Excise Tax Hikes Will Fuel South African Black Market, Industry Warns

The alcohol industry has warned that an increase in South Africa’s excise taxes will drive even more financially pressured consumers towards the already substantial black market.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

2 April 2025

5 min read

Drug Counterfeiting in India Exposes Vulnerability of QR Codes to Cloning

India is currently facing regulatory uncertainty around authentication and traceability regulations. While on one hand it recently amended its Central Goods & Services Tax (CGST) Act to allow for the introduction of tobacco traceability, on the other hand it has rolled back key measures for pharmaceuticals – possibly due to the increasingly widespread copying of genuine QR codes for track and trace onto counterfeit drugs.

Illicit Trade

Aftab Baloch

2 April 2025

3 min read

The Exaggerated Estimates of Pakistan’s Illicit Cigarette Trade

In March, the tobacco industry launched an extensive media campaign, making exaggerated claims about the illegal cigarette trade in Pakistan and advocating for tax reductions. This campaign has been widely publicised, attempting to paint a picture of rampant illicit trade in the cigarette market, allegedly causing significant revenue losses to the government. However, the data and methodologies used to support these claims appear to be misleading, creating an inflated perception of the extent of the problem.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

28 March 2025

2 min read

The DNA of Organised Crime is Changing, Europol Warns

Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU- SOCTA) 20251, published in March, reveals how the very DNA of crime is shifting – adapting to a world shaped by global instability, digitalisation and emerging technologies, and no longer bound by traditional structures.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

3 Feb. 2025

4 min read

Stamping Out Illicit Trade: A Look Inside Excise Revenue Protection

As illicit trade becomes more advanced, how do governments protect their revenues, citizens, and natural resources?

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

17 Dec. 2024

6 min read

US Cross-State Cigarette Smuggling Persists, Tax Foundation Finds

According to the latest US Tax Foundation report, ‘Cigarette Taxes and Cigarette Smuggling by State, 2022’, growing cigarette tax levels and price differentials have made cigarette smuggling a persistent, national problem in the United States. But price is not the only culprit, with state bans on flavoured tobacco and nicotine products also driving up levels of cross-state smuggling.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

17 Dec. 2024

2 min read

Another Multistate EU Cigarette Trafficking Scheme Uncovered

Enforcement authorities in Europe have taken down a criminal group operating an intricate cigarette trafficking scheme across several EU countries.

Illicit Trade

Sven Bergmann

4 Dec. 2024

9 min read

Real Authentication Labels on Fake Vapor Products

This article looks at the newly created, massive illicit market in vapor products originating mainly from China and sold in the United States (US). Despite being banned in both China and the US, brands like Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Lost Mary continue to circulate. What’s more, they carry authentication labels that falsely suggest legitimacy, further exacerbating illicit trade.

Illicit Trade Track and Trace

Nicola Sudan

4 Dec. 2024

2 min read

Tankers Impounded in Philippines Over Illegal Fuel Transfer

Amid an intensified crackdown against the illegal transfer of fuel in the Philippines, two tankers, carrying 370,000 litres of smuggled fuel worth over PHP 20 million ($343,000), were confiscated by the Philippines Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Navotas City in September. One month later, another tanker was caught in the act of transferring smuggled fuel into four lorries at the Port of Batangas.

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

5 Nov. 2024

2 min read

How Retailers Create Demand for Counterfeit Brands – and what to do about it

According to experts from Brand Monitor, an online and offline market surveillance company, the demand for counterfeits of specific brands is generated not so much by end consumers as by retailers, who tend to piggyback off the marketing campaigns and reputation of brand owners, and then attract consumers with the offer of lower prices.

Illicit Trade

5 Nov. 2024

4 min read

Illicit Tobacco in South Africa – Not Enough Political Will to Tackle it

Thanks to the COVID-19 tobacco sales ban in 2020, South Africa has one of the highest illicit tobacco levels in the world today, with an Ipsos study finding that almost 60% of stores across the country are selling products for less than the minimum collectable tax (MCT).

Excise Products Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

24 Sept. 2024

6 min read

Illicit Cigarettes Declining in EU but Rising in Europe, Claims KPMG Study

KPMG has released its latest annual study on illicit cigarettes in Europe1, commissioned by Philip Morris Products SA. The study shows that while illicit consumption in the 27 EU member states declined by 0.6 billion sticks in 2023, to reach 35.2 billion, overall illicit consumption in the 38 markets covered by the study rose by 3%, reaching 52.2 billion sticks.

Excise Products Free Illicit Trade Free

Nicola Sudan

24 Sept. 2024

4 min read

Illicit Cement is a Thing… So What’s Being Done About it?

The global scale of counterfeit and other illicitly traded cement is a significant issue, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria. This article looks at how these countries are tackling the problem.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

1 Sept. 2024

1 min read

Philippine Vape Festival Packed with Illicit Products

During the Philippine Vape Festival, held in August, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) seized over 5,000 illicit vape products displayed and offered for sale at the event. The main way of identifying the vapes were illicit was their lack of tax stamps.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

30 May 2024

6 min read

How to Identify Illicit Cigarettes – Ukrainian Forensic Experts Explain

In a recent Ukrainian National News (UNN) article, Oleksandr Ruvin, Director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, described the steps taken by the institute to identify smuggled cigarettes and counterfeits of well-known brands, with tax stamps featuring high on the list of elements to check.

Illicit Trade

Nicola Sudan

30 May 2024

2 min read

80% of UK Smokers Buy Illegal Tobacco

Between October-December 2023, the UK Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) commissioned a nationwide poll of 12,000 smokers on their attitudes, awareness and understanding of illegal tobacco. This is the ninth year this survey has been carried out.

Illicit Trade

Latest News

EU Illicit Cigarettes Surge to Highest Level Since 2015 – Huge Tax Variations not Helping

South Africa Illicit Trade Report Highlights Improvements… but Mainly Weaknesses

Chile Health Service Claims Illicit Drugs Being Sold Via Authorised Distributors

Drug Counterfeiting in India Exposes Vulnerability of QR Codes to Cloning

Excise Tax Hikes Will Fuel South African Black Market, Industry Warns

Drug Counterfeiting in India Exposes Vulnerability of QR Codes to Cloning

The Exaggerated Estimates of Pakistan’s Illicit Cigarette Trade

The DNA of Organised Crime is Changing, Europol Warns

Stamping Out Illicit Trade: A Look Inside Excise Revenue Protection

US Cross-State Cigarette Smuggling Persists, Tax Foundation Finds

Another Multistate EU Cigarette Trafficking Scheme Uncovered

Real Authentication Labels on Fake Vapor Products

Tankers Impounded in Philippines Over Illegal Fuel Transfer

How Retailers Create Demand for Counterfeit Brands – and what to do about it

Illicit Tobacco in South Africa – Not Enough Political Will to Tackle it

Illicit Cigarettes Declining in EU but Rising in Europe, Claims KPMG Study

Illicit Cement is a Thing… So What’s Being Done About it?

Philippine Vape Festival Packed with Illicit Products

How to Identify Illicit Cigarettes – Ukrainian Forensic Experts Explain

80% of UK Smokers Buy Illegal Tobacco

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