Counterfeit cigarettes mimicking Australian packaging are now being manufactured on an industrial scale in south-east Asian facilities, according to intelligence shared with the government. Criminal networks are exploiting these sophisticated fakes to bypass tobacco bans and flood the black market, raising concerns over public health and revenue losses. Authorities are urging stricter legislation to combat the growing trade, which continues to evade existing regulations despite ongoing enforcement efforts. The issue highlights both the ingenuity of illicit producers and the challenges in policing cross-border illegal goods.
Government warned that counterfeit tobacco produced by criminal organisations in south-east Asia is becoming more sophisticatedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe black-market tobacco trade continues to thrive as sellers turn to counterfeit packaging to skirt bans, prompting calls for the urgent passing of tougher laws.Intelligence provided to the federal government shows cigarettes in plain Australian-style packaging are being produced illegally at an industrial scale in south-east Asian warehouses. Continue reading...
