Organised crime driving illicit cigarette factory boom ‘in almost every EU state’

The European Union is facing a growing crisis in illegal tobacco trade, with nearly one in ten cigarettes either smuggled or produced illicitly, according to a new report by the bloc’s financial watchdog. The estimated €13 billion annual loss in tax revenue highlights the scale of the problem, as illicit manufacturing has surged in recent years, now surpassing traditional smuggling. The European Court of Auditors warns that the nature of the trade has shifted dramatically, raising concerns over lost public funds and weakened enforcement efforts.

Bloc losing €13bn in revenue with one in 10 cigarettes illegal, watchdog reportsEurope live – latest updatesThe illegal trade in tobacco is booming in the EU, according to a report by the bloc’s financial watchdog, with almost one in 10 cigarettes produced illicitly or smuggled, causing an estimated €13bn loss in tax revenue each year.The European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report on Tuesday that the trade had “changed significantly” in recent years as smuggling, while still “a problem”, was overtaken by illicit manufacturing, which has increased dramatically in the bloc. Continue reading...