Illegal Cigarettes Are Making a Comeback: Industry Calls on Europol, G7 and IMF to Step Up Fight Against Illicit Trade

Industry experts are urging Europol, the G7, and the IMF to step up their efforts to combat the growing problem of illegal cigarette trade.

The illicit tobacco trade is a major source of revenue for organized crime groups, and it also costs governments billions of dollars in lost tax revenue. In addition, illegal cigarettes are often sold to minors, which can lead to addiction and other health problems.

Europol estimates that the illicit tobacco trade costs the EU around €10 billion per year in lost tax revenue. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the illicit tobacco trade costs the U.S. government around $3 billion per year in lost tax revenue.

The industry is also concerned about the health risks associated with illegal cigarettes. Illegal cigarettes are often made with low-quality tobacco and other harmful ingredients, and they are not subject to the same safety regulations as legal cigarettes.

The industry is calling on Europol, the G7, and the IMF to take the following steps to combat the illicit tobacco trade:

• Increase funding for law enforcement efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade.
• Strengthen international cooperation on the issue of illicit tobacco trade.
• Implement new measures to make it more difficult for criminals to traffic illegal cigarettes.
• Educate the public about the dangers of illegal cigarettes.

The industry believes that these steps are essential to combat the growing problem of illegal cigarette trade.