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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
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Results for illicit tobacco
28 results foundAuthor: Great Britain. HM Revenue and Customs Title: Marketing Strategy for Illicit Tobacco Summary: This document is a cross-U.K. Government marketing strategy designed to change attitudes to illicit tobacco products. Details: London: HM Revenue & Customs; Department of Health, 2009. 41p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119402 Keywords: Illegal TradeIllicit TobaccoPublic Opinion |
Author: Alamar, Benjamin Title: Cigarette Smuggling in California: Fact and Fiction Summary: The tobacco industry fights increases in cigarette excise taxes with inflated claims of smuggling and its associated crime. The tobacco industry makes public statements regarding its commitment to stopping smuggling and the negative effects it has on their business, despite their internal knowledge that smuggling does not have a negative impact on the cigarette companies. The tobacco industry acts cooperatively to create the impression that there is grassroots level opposition to increased tobacco taxes. Once tax increases are implemented, the tobacco industry, contrary to its rhetoric, uses the tax increase to mask wholesale price increases. On average, the tobacco industry increases wholesale prices by 150% of any tax increase. Additionally, the tobacco industry appears to have increased cigarette prices by 605% of the first year cost of the Master Settlement Agreement. Previously published studies that analyzed data from various time periods between 1950 and 2000 have estimated that 2% to 6% of cigarettes are smuggled within the United States. The economic motivations for smuggling cigarettes in California are substantially lower in 2003 than they were in the early 1970s. Our new estimate of smuggling in California shows that 1% to 4.2% ($7 million to $45 million annually in lost tax revenue compared to $1.1 billion in cigarette taxes actually collected by the state) of cigarettes smoked in California are smuggled. The methods and results are consistent with the previously published literature. The California Board of Equalization differs from previous scientific studies and has estimated that smuggling is California 12% to 27% of cigarettes smoked, 5-10 times what all other authorities have estimated. The Board of Equalization uses unconventional and unreliable methods. The first BOE report (1999) utilizes an estimate of the level of smuggling based on national experience during the 1980s. It ignores the effect of California’s large and effective tobacco control program on cigarette consumption; it implicitly assumes that any drop in cigarette tax-paid sales in California beyond the drop expected from price increases was a result of increased smuggling rather than smokers cutting down or quitting as a result of the California Tobacco Control Program. The second BOE report (2003) is based on a biased sample of small retail outlets where one would expect illicit sales to be most likely. Stores such as Walmart, Sam's Club and Costco are assumed to sell smuggled cigarettes to the same extent as the small retail outlets. For these reasons, the BOE estimates should not be used as a basis for making public policy. Even if one accepts the BOE’s very high estimates of smuggling, increasing the cigarette tax will increase state revenues. Details: San Francisco: Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, 2003. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 21, 2011 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4fv0b2sz Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4fv0b2sz Shelf Number: 122098 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling (California)Illicit TobaccoTax Revenues |
Author: John, Shoba Title: Enforcement of Tobacco Control Policies: Global Best Practices Summary: The tobacco epidemic is one of the major public health threats facing India today, with one million deaths predicted from tobacco-related illnesses by 2010. Comprehensive tobacco control policies and programme are required to rein in this epidemic. The Government of India has already taken several steps to address the challenges caused by tobacco use. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 is a landmark policy effort in this direction. However, the enforcement and compliance with the law at the national and sub-national levels need to be undertaken in a concerted manner to achieve effective implementation. This report presents international best practices in the implementation of evidence-based tobacco control measures and seeks to identify elements for effective policy enforcement that are applicable to India. The report focuses on global enforcement practices for four tobacco control measures that are significant to the implementation of the Indian tobacco control law: bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; bans on smoking in public and workplaces; packaging and labeling policies; and regulation of youth access to tobacco. Details: Munbai, India: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2008. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2011 at: http://www.healthbridge.ca/Enforfement%20PDF.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.healthbridge.ca/Enforfement%20PDF.pdf Shelf Number: 123232 Keywords: CigarettesIllicit TobaccoTobacco Control |
Author: LaFaive, Michael Title: Cigarette Taxes and Smuggling 2010: An Update of Earlier Research Summary: Between January 2007 and 2009, 21 of the 48 contiguous states — including tobacco state North Carolina — raised their cigarette taxes, producing a total of 27 tax hikes. In 2010, tobacco state South Carolina and five other states did the same. This study updates the Mackinac Center’s 2008 publication “Cigarette Taxes and Smuggling: A Statistical Analysis and Historical Review” to reflect state and federal cigarette tax hikes through fiscal 2009. The original study used data through fiscal 2006. Our new estimates indicate that in 2009, the state of Michigan ranked 10th in the nation in smuggled cigarettes as a percentage of total in-state cigarette consumption — 26 percent. The five smuggling destination states with the highest cigarette smuggling rates were Arizona (51.8 percent of the state’s total consumption); New York (47.5 percent); Rhode Island (40.5 percent); New Mexico (37.2 percent); and California (36.3 percent). According to our calculations, Arizona’s inbound smuggling rate was not in the top five in 2006, yet we estimate that Arizona now has the nation’s highest inbound cigarette smuggling rate, with over half of all cigarette consumption coming from smuggled sources. This is probably a function of the state’s 2006 excise tax hike, the 2009 federal excise tax hike and Arizona’s proximity to Mexico. The study also breaks smuggling rates into two primary types of smuggling: “casual” and “commercial.” Casual smuggling typically involves individuals crossing borders to obtain their cigarettes for personal use. It may also involve purchases made over the Internet. Commercial smuggling involves larger, typically long-haul efforts, such as transporting cigarettes from North Carolina (a typical source state) to Michigan or elsewhere. In the casual smuggling category, Michigan’s smuggling rate ranks 5th in the nation, at 11.6 percent of total in-state cigarette consumption. Only New York (19.9 percent), Rhode Island (18.2 percent), Washington (14.5 percent) and Montana (13.2 percent) residents crossed into neighboring jurisdictions for lower-taxed cigarettes more often than those of the Great Lakes State. Remarkably, New York state earned the number one spot even before hiking state taxes by $1.60 per pack in 2010. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this recent hike has been a boon to Pennsylvania retailers just across the Empire State’s border. The states with the top inbound commercial cigarette smuggling rates are New Jersey (29.1 percent); New York (28.5 percent); Vermont (24.2 percent); Massachusetts (23.3 percent); and Connecticut (20.9 percent). Five smuggling destination states moved up by double digits between 2006 and 2009 in our state rankings of net smuggling rates: Texas, from 16th to 6th; Mississippi, from 37th to 22nd; South Dakota, from 28th to 12th; Maryland, from 24th to 9th; and Iowa, from 33rd to 15th. These large smuggling rate increases relative to those of other states can likely be attributed to the five states’ substantial state excise tax increases over the past three years. Texas increased its per-pack cigarette tax from 41 cents to 141 cents in 2007; Mississippi, from 18 cents to 68 cents in 2009; South Dakota, from 53 cents to 153 cents in 2007; Maryland, from 100 cents to 200 cents in 2008; and Iowa, from 36 cents to 136 cents in 2007. Despite the notable cigarette tax hikes in recent years, other proposals are being floated around the country. In 2009, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm suggested raising cigarette taxes to $2.25 per pack, up from $2.00 per pack. That proposal never came to fruition, but we estimate that had it become law, illicit cigarette trafficking would have leapt to 28.3 percent of Michigan’s total cigarette consumption. In Illinois, according to our calculations, a proposed $1.00-perpack cigarette tax hike would cause cigarette smuggling to increase from a modest 5.9 percent of total in-state consumption to 24.3 percent. Smuggling is not the only unintended consequence of high cigarette taxes. Taxinduced smuggling can also lead to violence against people, police and property, and encourage sizable and brazen theft. The authors recommend reducing state and local cigarette taxes as a way to thwart smuggling and other unintended consequences. Details: Midland, MI: Mackinac Center for Public Policy, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2012 at: http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2010/2010-09TobaccoSmugglingFINALweb2.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.mackinac.org/archives/2010/2010-09TobaccoSmugglingFINALweb2.pdf Shelf Number: 125232 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling (U.S.)Illicit TobaccoTax Revenues |
Author: Lovenheim, Michael F. Title: How Far to the Border?: The Extent and Impact of Cross-Border Casual Cigarette Smuggling Summary: This paper uses micro-data on cigarette consumption from four waves of the CPS Tobacco Supplement to estimate cigarette demand models that incorporate the decision of whether to smuggle cigarettes across a state or Native American Reservation border. I ¯nd demand elasticities with respect to the home state price are indistinguishable from zero on average and vary signi¯cantly with the distance individuals live to a lower-price border. However, when smuggling incentives are eradicated, the price elasticity is negative, though still inelastic. I also estimate cross-border sales cause a modest increase in consumption, and between 13 and 25 percent of consumers purchase cigarettes in border localities in the CPS sample. The central implication of this study is, while cigarette taxes are ine®ective at achieving the goals for which they were levied in many states, there are signi¯cant potential gains from price increases that are confounded by cross-border sales. Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford University, 2007. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: SIEPR Discussion Paper No. 06-40: Accessed May 10, 2012 at: http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/papers/pdf/06-40.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www-siepr.stanford.edu/papers/pdf/06-40.pdf Shelf Number: 125240 Keywords: Cigarette SmugglingIllicit TobaccoTax Evasion |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: Crime Proofing the Policy Options for the Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive: Proofing the Policy Options Under Consideration for the Revision of EU Directive 2001/37/EC Against the Risks of Unintended Criminal Opportunities Summary: The report by Transcrime uses a widely endorsed crime proofing methodology that assesses opportunities for crime inadvertently created by regulation. Analyzing all the proposed policy options for the revision of the TPD, Transcrime found three major policy areas which are likely to increase crime: generic packaging for tobacco products, implementation of a “polluter pays principle” and a ban on the display of tobacco products at the point of sale. “The crime proofing exercise we have conducted has shown that some of the policy options envisaged by the European Commission carry significant risks of creating unintended opportunities for the illicit trade in tobacco products. In particular, there is a high risk that a measure such as generic packaging may increase the counterfeiting of tobacco products and make it difficult for consumers to distinguish legitimate products from illegitimate ones” said the report’s author, Professor Ernesto Savona. Available information on the currently on-going impact assessment for the revision of the TPD indicates that the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO) paid almost no attention to the potential impacts on the illegal trade in tobacco products. “Contrary to their own guidelines, European policymakers rarely consider the crime risk implications when drafting new legislation and the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive by DG SANCO seems to confirm this,” continued Professor Savona. In the report, Transcrime emphasizes the need for further research and attention by policy makers to assess, among the many consequences, also the crime impact of proposed tobacco policy measures, something that has been systematically overlooked so far. Details: Trento, Italy: Transcrime - Joint Research Centre on Transnational Crime, 2012. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2012 at: http://transcrime.cs.unitn.it/tc/537.php Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://transcrime.cs.unitn.it/tc/537.php Shelf Number: 126347 Keywords: Counterfeit TobaccoCounterfeitingCrime PreventionCrime ProofingIllegal TobaccoIllicit TobaccoOrganized CrimeTobacco Control Policy |
Author: U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Republican Staff Title: Tobacco and Terror: How Cigarette Smuggling is Funding our Enemies Abroad Summary: It has been well-reported that terrorist and criminal organizations are conducting illicit business operations within the United States, sending the profits overseas to finance domestic and international terrorist and criminal organizations. Recent law enforcement investigations have revealed that these profits, estimated to be in the millions of dollars annually in the United States along, are generated in part by illicit cigarette trafficking. Historically, the low-risk, high profitability of the illicit cigarette trade served as a gateway for traditional criminal traffickers to move into lucrative and dangerous criminal enterprises such as money laundering, arms dealing, and drug trafficking. Recent law enforcement investigations, however, have directly linked those involved in illicit tobacco trade to infamous terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and al Qaeda. These startling discoveries led U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Peter T. King (R-NY) to launch an investigation of the issue. The following staff report - which will focus on the estimated millions of dollars in illicit tobacco profits being funneled to terrorist groups overseas as well as New York State's refusal to enforce tobacco laws - is the result of numerous interviews with law enforcement official at the local, State, and Federal level, as well as open-source research. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, 2007. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2012 at https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/412462-tobacco-and-terror-how-cigarette-smuggling-is.html Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/412462-tobacco-and-terror-how-cigarette-smuggling-is.html Shelf Number: 126414 Keywords: Cigarette SmugglingIllegal TradeIllicit TobaccoTerrorist FinancingTobacco Smuggling |
Author: Reed, Howard Title: Tobacco Taxation, Smuggling & Smoking in Ireland Summary: In 2011, the Irish Heart Foundation commissoned Landman Economics to assess the future impact of tax increases on smoking rates and the illicit trade in tobacco. The study shows that a €1 tax increase on a packet of 20 cigarettes would bring in €68 million in extra receipts and a further €28 million in indirect public finance benefits. Such an increase would also result in some 30,000 people quitting smoking in Ireland. Given that roughly one in two smokers ultimately die from the habit, this single action would help up to 15,000 people countrywide to live longer. In addition to a price increase, the report recommends: A Government commitment to a price escalator whereby tobacco taxes rise by a certain amount each year in future budgets (for example, 5 percent per year above inflation). Expenditure on anti-smuggling operations such as enforcement and supply chain control should be increased by around €8 million per year. This would match per capita spending in the UK where smuggling has been reduced from 21% to 12% despite regular tax increases above inflation. A similar reduction here would bring in around €130 million of extra revenue to the Exchequer per year. Details: Dublin: Irish Heart Foundation, 2011. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://www.irishheart.ie/media/pub/advocacy/Tobaccotaxationsmugglingandsmoking.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.irishheart.ie/media/pub/advocacy/Tobaccotaxationsmugglingandsmoking.pdf Shelf Number: 129488 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling (Ireland)Illegal TradeIllicit TobaccoIllicit TradeTax Revenues |
Author: Daudelin, Jean Title: Border Integrity, Illicit Tobacco, and Canada's Security Summary: T he small town of Cornwall in eastern Ontario can be considered the contraband capital of Canada, thanks to the high volume of cross-border smuggling and illicit trade in the area. The problem has two sources: the unique local geography combined with practical, legal, and political problems that make it easy to bypass border controls; and the tolerance of Canadian and US law enforcement toward the illicit manufacture and sale of tobacco products on the Mohawk territory that straddles the Canada-US border between Ontario, Quebec, and New York State. Much of the local problem revolves around tobacco; however, significant amounts of illegal drugs, weapons, and humans have been trafficked through the area, all of these accounting for a chain of collateral crime in the surrounding region. The gross value of these illegal practices reaches into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Contraband has national security implications for Canada. Tobacco and its trade generate important economic benefits for the Mohawk community that lives on the Akwesasne (Canada) and St. Regis (US) Mohawk reserves that straddle the border. A substantial part of the production and sale is legal, but the Mohawk generally refuse to apply taxes to their legal tobacco products, and they tolerate the illegal production and sale of tobacco. As a result, a direct attack on those activities may provoke confronta- tions, and possibly even a loss of federal control over the border area. In addition, US authorities are preoccupied with the movement of illegal drugs and humans through Cornwall: any measures they take to stem the flow would hurt Canada economically by inhibiting the free circulation of goods and people across the border. Illicit tobacco accounts for about 15 percent of cigarette sales in Canada, a large proportion of which comes through Cornwall. Attempts to constrict that flow have failed. However, the pressure exerted on the trade has helped keep profits much lower than they could have been. Given the sensitive political situation and the overlapping jurisdictions and legal frameworks, enforcement authorities have been remarkably effective in containing broader security fallout. We found little evidence of extensive smuggling of drugs, weapons, and humans in recent years, and the large-scale involvement of organized crime appears to have been curtailed. Tensions with the Mohawk community have been rare, confrontations largely avoided, and a fluid and effective relationship with the Mohawk police on everything but tobacco on reserve has been built. In summary, federal authorities on both sides of the border appear to tolerate the illicit tobacco trade in favour of containing the broader criminal and security dangers that smuggling and its repression represent. On that count, current efforts have been quite successful. Executive Summary The Seaway International Bridge over the St.Lawrence River connecting the city of Cornwall, Ontario in Canada to the town of Massena, New York in the US. Details: Ottawa, ON: MacDonald-Laurier Institute, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/MLIBorder-Integrity-Illicit-Tobacco-Canadas-Security.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/MLIBorder-Integrity-Illicit-Tobacco-Canadas-Security.pdf Shelf Number: 129489 Keywords: Border SecurityCigarette SmugglingIllegal Trade (Canada)Illicit Tobacco |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 5 - Germany Summary: This report is part of the project the Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (henceforth ITTP). The project has been developed by Transcrime after the Round Table on Proofing EU Regulation against the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products hosted by Universite Cattolica of Milan, on 5 May 2011. During the Round Table, participants (researchers and policymakers with experience in the field of the illicit trade in tobacco products) agreed on a research agenda concerning the ITTP (Transcrime 2011b). Items 3 and 6 of the research agenda focused on the need for better analysis of the tobacco market taking account of its dual nature (i.e. legal and illicit) and on how licit and illicit markets vary across different countries and regions. Given these considerations, Transcrime has developed the Factbook on the ITTP, a multi-annual research plan providing detailed analyses of the ITTP and of its relations with the legal market and other socio-economic and political factors in a number of countries around the world. The aim of the Factbook is to provide an innovative instrument able to shed light on the complex mechanisms behind the ITTP in different countries. This report focuses on Germany. Tobacco consumption is undoubtedly a danger for human health, and governments should carefully regulate the tobacco market. Illicit tobacco avoids state regulation and taxation and may jeopardise tobacco control policies. The Factbook will contribute to raising awareness about the global importance of the ITTP and about the strategies available to prevent it. The Factbook has been developed for a wide readership ranging from policymakers, through academics, to interested stakeholders, the intention being to provide a support to develop knowledge-based debates and policies on the ITTP. The information gathered for this report originates from academic literature, grey literature, open sources, questionnaires and interviews with experts and stakeholders. There are few studies on the ITTP in Germany. Furthermore, information of law enforcement action comes mainly from the German Customs, while other law enforcement agencies, although involved in the fight against the ITTP, provide more limited data. In addition to the these issues, the data-gathering phase of the project encountered major difficulties due to the number of sources, institutions and stakeholders involved. The results of the report do not claim to be exhaustive, nor an accurate reflection of criminal practices. They provide an initial assessment of the ITTP in Germany and a starting point for future research. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2013. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2014 at: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-5-germany/ Year: 2013 Country: Germany URL: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-5-germany/ Shelf Number: 132809 Keywords: Cigarette SmugglingCigarettesIllegal TradeIllicit TobaccoTobacco |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 6 - Lithuania Summary: The project has been developed by Transcrime after the Round Table on Proofing EU Regulation against the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products hosted by Universita Cattolica of Milan, on 5 May 2011. During the Round Table, participants (researchers and policymakers with experience in the field of the illicit trade in tobacco products) agreed on a research agenda concerning the ITTP (Transcrime 2011). Items 3 and 6 of the research agenda focused on the need for better analysis of the tobacco market taking account of its dual nature (i.e. legal and illicit) and on how licit and illicit markets vary across different countries and regions. Given these considerations, Transcrime has developed the Factbook on the ITTP, a multi-annual research plan providing detailed analyses of the ITTP and of its relations with the legal market and other socio-economic and political factors in a number of countries around the world. The aim of the Factbook is to provide an innovative instrument able to shed light on the complex mechanisms behind the ITTP in different countries. This report focuses on Lithuania. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2014. 97p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2014 at: http://www.transcrime.it/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-6-lithuania/ Year: 2014 Country: Lithuania URL: http://www.transcrime.it/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-6-lithuania/ Shelf Number: 132810 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling Cigarettes Illegal Trade Illicit Tobacco Tobacco |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 3 - Ireland Summary: This report is part of the project The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (henceforth ITTP). The project has been developed by Transcrime after the Round Table on Proofing EU Regulation against the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products hosted by Universita Cattolica of Milan, on 5 May 2011. During the Round Table, participants (researchers and policymakers with experience in the field of the illicit trade in tobacco products) agreed on a research agenda concerning the ITTP (Transcrime 2011b). Items 3 and 6 of the research agenda focused on the need for better analysis of the tobacco market taking account of its dual nature (i.e. legal and illicit) and on how licit and illicit markets vary across different countries and regions. Given these considerations, Transcrime has developed the Factbook on the ITTP, a multi-annual research plan providing detailed analyses of the ITTP and of its relations with the legal market and other socioeconomic and political factors in a number of countries around the world. The aim of the Factbook is to provide an innovative instrument able to shed light on the complex mechanisms behind the ITTP in different countries. This report focuses on Ireland. Given the close geographical, social, economic and cultural connections, it also focuses, where appropriate, on Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom.1 Tobacco consumption is undoubtedly a danger for human health, and governments should carefully regulate the tobacco market. Illicit tobacco avoids state regulation and taxation and may jeopardize tobacco control policies. The Factbook will contribute to raising awareness about the global importance of the ITTP and about the strategies available to prevent it. The Factbook has been developed for a wide readership ranging from policymakers, through academics, to interested stakeholders, the intention being to provide a support to develop knowledge-based debates and policies on the ITTP. The information gathered for this report originates from academic literature, grey literature, open sources, questionnaires and interviews with experts and stakeholders. While there are some studies on the ITTP in Ireland, the data-gathering phase of the projects encountered major difficulties due to the number of sources, institutions and stakeholders involved. The results of the report do not claim to be exhaustive, nor an accurate reflection of criminal practices. They provide an initial assessment of the ITTP in Ireland and a starting point for future research. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2013. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2014 at: http://www.transcrime.it/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-3-ireland/ Year: 2013 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.transcrime.it/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-3-ireland/ Shelf Number: 132811 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling Cigarettes Illegal Trade Illicit Tobacco Tobacco |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 1 - United Kingdom Summary: This report provides the first country profile of the Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products project. The country profile focuses on the UK, where the illicit trade in tobacco products (hereinafter ITTP) has become an important concern since the 1990s. Although Government action since 2000 has successfully reduced the market share of illicit tobacco, the UK's illegal market is still above the average of other EU Member States. WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THIS REPORT? This report is organised into three sections: Section one deals with the five drivers of the ITTP: society and economy, the legal market, regulation, the crime environment and enforcement. The drivers are important areas whose structures may positively or negatively impact on the ITTP. To enable comparison with other country profiles, five key indicators have been selected for each driver. Section two focuses on the four components of the ITTP: demand, products, supply, modus operandi and geographical distribution. Section three identifies the key factors of the ITTP in UK and frames the drivers in the components, analysing how different elements of the drivers influence the components of ITTP. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2013. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2013 at: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-1/ Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-1/ Shelf Number: 132814 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling Cigarettes Illegal Trade Illicit Tobacco Tobacco |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products 2 - Italy Summary: This report is part of the project The Factbook on the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. It focuses on Italy, where the illicit trade in tobacco seems to have grown in recent years. This fact, combined with the geographical location of the country and the consolidated presence of organised crime, makes Italy an interesting country to explore in terms of ITTP flows in the Mediterranean basin and towards North European countries. WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THIS REPORT? This report is organised into three chapters: - Chapter one deals with the five drivers of the ITTP: society and economy, the legal market, regulation, the crime environment and enforcement. The drivers are important areas whose structures may positively or negatively impact on the ITTP. To enable comparison with other country profiles, five key indicators have been selected for each driver. The data for the driver indicators come from comparable sources (latest available years). When possible, the report provides the most up-to-date data from national sources. - Chapter two focuses on the four components of the ITTP: demand, supply, products, modus operandi and geographical distribution. - Chapter three identifies the key factors of the ITTP in Italy and frames the drivers in the components, analysing how different elements of the drivers influence the components of the ITTP. Details: Milan, IT: Transcrime, 2013. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2014 at: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-2-italia/ Year: 2013 Country: Italy URL: http://www.transcrime.it/en/pubblicazioni/the-factbook-on-the-illicit-trade-in-tobacco-products-2-italia/ Shelf Number: 132816 Keywords: Cigarette Smuggling Cigarettes Illegal Trade Illicit Tobacco Tobacco |
Author: KPMG Title: Illicit Tobacco in Australia Summary: For the first time since the implementation of Australia's plain packaging experiment we now have hard data to replace the anecdotes and predictions about its true impact, and the data show that since the introduction of this policy the black market has grown while consumption of tobacco overall has not declined. This report shows that smugglers and counterfeiters have been the big winners in Australia since the implementation of plain packaging at a great loss to the treasury. In less than a year, consumption of illegal, branded cigarettes, some of which now enjoy higher market share than legal brands in Australia, has increased by 154 percent. As a result, the government has lost up to AUD1.0 billion in tax revenue, while the criminal gangs behind this activity have lined their pockets. PMI supports reasonable regulation, but we believe governments have a responsibility to ensure the laws they pass meet their stated goals, uphold the rule of law, are evaluated based on objective standards and do not lead to negative consequences, such as boosting the illegal market at the expense of legitimate manufacturers and retailers. As studies quantifying actual changes in behavior and the marketplace since the introduction of plain packaging continue to come out of Australia, it is our hope that this evidence will not be ignored. Details: London: KPMG, 2014. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2014 at: https://www.imperial-tobacco.com/assets/files/cms/KPMG_FY2013_Illicit_Trade_Report___FINAL___11_April_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://www.imperial-tobacco.com/assets/files/cms/KPMG_FY2013_Illicit_Trade_Report___FINAL___11_April_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132880 Keywords: CounterfeitingIllegal MarketsIllegal Tobacco (Australia)Illicit TobaccoSmugglingTax Evasion |
Author: UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies Title: Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health: Final Evaluation Report Summary: In recognition of the role of illicit tobacco (IT) in undermining tobacco control strategies and in maintaining and encouraging tobacco use among deprived communities, the North of England Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health Programme (the Programme) was launched in July 20091. The main aim of this pilot Programme was to increase the health of the population in three regions (North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humber) through reducing smoking prevalence by (a) reducing the availability (supply) of IT, thus keeping real tobacco prices high; and (b) reducing the demand for IT by building on existing tobacco control measures. Prior to the launch of this Programme, IT was largely the responsibility of the agency, Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which focused predominantly on supply, so the Programme marked the first large-scale attempt of the health sector to reduce IT use. The UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS) was commissioned in September 2009 to evaluate the Programme up until March 2011. The evaluation team was multi-disciplinary and included researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Durham (including researchers from FUSE3), Stirling, Northumbria and University College London. Methods The UKCTCS used a Theory of Change approach to the evaluation as the Programme was perceived to be a complex community initiative. A "mixed-methods‟ approach was utilised involving document analysis, qualitative research interviews, ethnographic research and examination of relevant quantitative indicators: including external ones (such as calls to Customs Hotline and Crimestoppers and a national survey of trading standards services carried out by Local Government Association) and from other studies commissioned by the Programme (such as surveys of stakeholders, Trading Standards and market research by The Hub and NEMS). As the Programme could not be expected to have an impact on prevalence during the evaluation period, indicators to assess supply and demand factors needed to be identified and monitored. Details: Nottingham, UK: Nottingham University, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2014 at: https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/drupalncc.newcastle.gov.uk/files/wwwfileroot/business/trading_standards/illicit_tobacco_evaluation1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/drupalncc.newcastle.gov.uk/files/wwwfileroot/business/trading_standards/illicit_tobacco_evaluation1.pdf Shelf Number: 133034 Keywords: Crime PreventionHealth ProgramsIllegal Tobacco (U.K.)Illicit Tobacco |
Author: International Tax and Investment Center Title: Asia-14: Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2013 Summary: This study is an update and expansion of our previous research, 'Asia-11 Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2012'. In light of newly available data sources, it has been possible to extend the coverage to include Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, resulting in full coverage of the 10 ASEAN member countries plus Australia, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Taiwan. In 2013, 10.9% of cigarettes consumed in Asia-141 were illicit Total Consumption (legal and illicit) across the Asia-14 was an estimated 760.1 billion cigarettes in 2013. Of this, 10.9% or 82.8 billion cigarettes in Asia-14 were estimated to have been illicit. In ASEAN, Total Consumption was an estimated 608.2 billion cigarettes in 2013. Of this, 9.1% or 55.6 billion cigarettes were estimated to have been illicit. In 2013, the share of Illicit Consumption increased in 7 of the 11 markets that were part of the 'Asia-11 Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2012' report Nearly three quarters of Illicit Consumption occurred in just three markets: Pakistan (22.8% Illicit), the Philippines (18.1%), and Vietnam (20.7%). In the 11 markets for which estimates are available for both 2012 and 2013 (i.e., the 'Asia-11'), Illicit Consumption is estimated to have increased by 20.1%, from 66.5 billion cigarettes to 79.9 billion cigarettes (an increase of 13.4 billion cigarettes). This was driven primarily by the rise in Illicit Consumption in the Philippines (by 12.7 billion cigarettes, an increase of 198%), underpinned by significant growth in Domestic Illicit Consumption. 7 markets (Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam) saw an increase in the share of Illicit Consumption in Total Consumption of cigarettes between 2012 and 2013. The steepest rise was again in the Philippines. However, Pakistan, and Singapore saw noticeable declines in the share of Illicit Consumption in 2013, the former a result of declining Domestic Illicit volumes, and the latter a consequence of a decline in Contraband. In both cases, however, the share of Illicit Consumption in Total Consumption remained much higher than the Asia-14 average. Domestic and Non Domestic Illicit both contributed to the rise in Illicit Consumption in Asia There was a 181.2% rise in Domestic Illicit Consumption in the Philippines (equal to 11.0 billion cigarettes). A small amount of Domestic Illicit was also identified in Indonesia in 2013. A number of markets saw a rise in Non-Domestic Illicit cigarettes in 2013. Consumption of Contraband cigarettes increased in Indonesia and Taiwan, while consumption of Counterfeit cigarettes rose sharply in the Philippines. There were increases in Non-Domestic Illicit of Unspecified Market Variant in Australia and Vietnam. Asia-14 government tax revenue losses from Illicit Consumption totalled US$ 3.9 billion in 2013 The tax loss associated with Illicit Consumption of cigarettes increased in 6 markets compared with 2012. In the 11 markets for which estimates are available for both 2012 and 2013, the estimated tax loss from Illicit Consumption increased from US$ 3.4 billion in 2012 to US$ 3.9 billion, an increase of 13.8%. The largest rise in tax loss in absolute terms was in the Philippines (497%). Australia and Indonesia also experienced a significant rise in estimated tax losses from Illicit Consumption. The government tax revenue losses from Illicit Consumption in the ASEAN region totalled US$ 2.1 billion in 2013. Details: Oxford, UK: Oxford Economics, 2014. 220p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2014 at: http://www.pmi.com/eng/tobacco_regulation/illicit_trade/Documents/Asia-14%20Illicit%20Tobacco%20Indicator%202013.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Asia URL: http://www.pmi.com/eng/tobacco_regulation/illicit_trade/Documents/Asia-14%20Illicit%20Tobacco%20Indicator%202013.pdf Shelf Number: 134222 Keywords: CigarettesContrabandEconomic CrimesFinancial CrimesIllegal MarketsIllegal TobaccoIllicit Products (Asia)Illicit TobaccoTax Evasion |
Author: International Tax and Investment Center Title: Asia-11: Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2012 Summary: In 2012, 9% of cigarettes consumed in Asia-11 were illicit Total Consumption (legal and illicit) across the Asia-111 markets covered in this report totalled an estimated 736.4 billion cigarettes in 2012, of which 9.0% or 66.5 billion cigarettes are estimated to have been illicit. This includes consumption of illicit imports and illicit products locally manufactured, such as under/non-declared products from local manufacturers. Illicit share was over 25% in five markets Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Pakistan all had estimated shares of illicit cigarettes in Total Consumption of over 25% in 2012. Illicit volumes were highest in Pakistan, Vietnam, and Malaysia In 2012, in both Vietnam and Pakistan, Illicit Consumption was over 20 billion cigarettes. In Malaysia the volume of illicit cigarettes was estimated at almost 8 billion. Domestic illicit cigarette volumes were highest in Pakistan and the Philippines In Pakistan and the Philippines, illicit cigarettes produced by local manufacturers and sold in the market without payment of taxes totalled an estimated 25 billion cigarettes in 2012. Asia-11 government tax revenue losses from Illicit Consumption totaled US$ 3.4 billion in 2012 The biggest tax losses in absolute terms occurred in Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Details: Oxford, UK: Oxford Economics, 2013. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2014 at: http://www.pmi.com/eng/tobacco_regulation/illicit_trade/Documents/Asia_11_Illicit_Tobacco_Indicator_2012.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.pmi.com/eng/tobacco_regulation/illicit_trade/Documents/Asia_11_Illicit_Tobacco_Indicator_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 133908 Keywords: Cigarettes ContrabandEconomic Crimes Financial Crimes Illegal Markets Illegal Tobacco Illicit Products (Asia) Illicit Tobacco Tax Evasion |
Author: International Tax and Investment Center Title: Asia-11: Illicit Tobacco Indicator: 2013 Update for the Philippines Summary: Excise rates on the majority of cigarettes in the Philippines (Low-tax tier) rose by 341% on 1st January 2013. Excise rates on brands in the Mid-tax tier increased by 231%, while "premium-price" brands (High-tax tier) saw an increase of 108% in excise rates. This tax increase has contributed to a 59% rise in the pack price of the most sold brands in both the "low-price" and "premium-price" segments. The price increase on the most sold brand in the "super-low price" segment was highest at 175%. Legal Domestic Sales dropped almost 16% in 2013 from a year earlier. However, this decline was almost fully offset by an increased level of Illicit Consumption. As a result, Total Consumption (legal and illicit) was only down 3% in 2013. There has been a sharp rise in Illicit Consumption from 5.9% in 2012 to an estimated 18.1% of Total Consumption or 19.1 billion cigarettes in 2013. This rise primarily relates to increased consumption of Domestic Illicit cigarettes, which has risen sharply from 5.6% of Total Consumption in 2012 to an estimated 16.3% of Total Consumption or 17.1 billion cigarettes in 2013. There has also been an 800% increase in the consumption of Counterfeit cigarettes, which accounted for 1.8% of Total Consumption or 1.8 billion cigarettes in 2013, compared to 0.2% of Total Consumption in 2012. The cigarette tax revenue loss (excise and VAT) has risen to PHP 15.6 billion in 2013, representing an increase of 497% compared to 2012. Details: Oxford, UK: Oxford Economics, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.oxfordeconomics.com/Media/Default/landing-pages/asia11/report-asia11-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Philippines URL: http://www.oxfordeconomics.com/Media/Default/landing-pages/asia11/report-asia11-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 134220 Keywords: Cigarettes (Philippines)ContrabandEconomic Crimes Financial Crimes Illegal Markets Illegal Tobacco Illicit Products Illicit Tobacco Tax Evasion |
Author: Iringe-Koko, Ibiere Belinda Title: Illicit Tobacco: Policy Responses, Consumption and Attitudes Summary: The existence of the illicit tobacco trade has serious implications for tobacco control efforts as it encourages smoking by providing tobacco products at a cheaper price. Although this illicit trade has serious ramifications for public health in England, there is very limited data on its nature, the extent of its use and smokers' views on illicit tobacco. This thesis aimed to address this by utilising a mixed methodology approach which consisted of population based surveys of English smokers and in-depth face-to-face interviews with smokers. Prevalence of illicit tobacco use appeared to decrease between 2007-8 and 2012, but there was an increase from 2010-11 to 2012. 'Under the counter' tobacco purchases in retail shops emerged as a prominent source of illicit tobacco, although smokers were able to access a number of illicit sources. Smokers who exclusively purchased illicit tobacco paid much less for their tobacco products compared with those who reported exclusive duty-paid tobacco purchases. Report of illicit tobacco use was more likely in younger smokers, males, smokers in low socio-economic groups, smokers of 'roll your own' tobacco and those with high tobacco dependence in 2012. However, this changed with each survey, as illicit tobacco use appeared to become more widespread across socio-demographic sub-groups. Illicit tobacco users reported lower levels of motivated to quit smoking. However, smokers in the interview study reported that loss of access to illicit tobacco would drive them to think about quitting or cutting down on their smoking. The interview study revealed that smokers were able to easily access illicit tobacco in their communities and social circles. In addition, smokers viewed the illicit tobacco market and illicit traders approvingly as providing a means of accessing affordable tobacco products. Furthermore, they were unperturbed by the illegality and associated criminality of illicit tobacco trade. Due to the nature of this illegal activity, further research should investigate how the illicit tobacco market evolves in response to policy efforts. Details: London: University College London, 2013. 465p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 5, 2015 at: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1463373/1/Belinda%20Iringe-Koko%20PhD%20THESIS%20%5BFINAL%5D.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1463373/1/Belinda%20Iringe-Koko%20PhD%20THESIS%20%5BFINAL%5D.pdf Shelf Number: 136326 Keywords: CigarettesIllegal TobaccoIllicit TobaccoIllicit Trade |
Author: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Title: Illicit Trade: Converging Criminal Networks Summary: Illicit trade is a worldwide phenomenon. Globalisation has provided opportunities for criminal networks to expand the scope and scale of their operations, with serious negative consequences for the economy, the environment and society. Illicit trade also undermines good governance, the rule of law and citizens' trust in government, and can ultimately threaten political stability. This report provides analysis of some of the main areas of illicit trade, including trafficking in persons, wildlife, counterfeit medicines, narcotics, tobacco, alcohol and sports betting. It looks at what drives and facilitates such activity, estimates the volume of trade and amount of revenue it generates, maps the pathways of illicit goods from production to consumer, describes the shortcomings of current policies for reducing or deterring illicit trade, and suggests avenues for improvement. Understanding illicit trade It is important to clearly define and measure illicit trade, and understand the context that allows it to flourish. However, countries - and sometimes regions within countries - do not always agree on what goods can be legally traded, and there is even greater variance in the application of quality standards and the protection of intellectual property rights. These differences can make cross-country measurement of illicit trade as a whole very difficult, which is why this report takes a sectoral approach. Our increasingly interconnected economies and societies have allowed organized crime to expand alongside the exponential growth in legitimate international trade. Criminal networks exploit differences in regulatory and tax regimes to move goods and services across borders. While exact measurements can be difficult given the clandestine nature of illicit transactions, one estimate puts the profits of international organised crime as high as USD 870 billion, or 1.5% of global GDP. Calculating and tracking the money made from these activities is important as it can provide crucial information to law enforcement. More data and information sharing is needed to develop a clearer understanding of illicit trade and how to combat it. A more holistic view of the cost of illicit trade also takes into account its harmful impacts on consumers, the environment, tax revenues and jobs. Traffic in humans and narcotics, for example, also exact a very heavy social toll. Illicit trade can also be closely linked to criminal violence and terrorism. Costs in terms of law enforcement, incarceration and rehabilitation should also be taken into account. Finally, illicit trade can cause longer-term damage to the rule of law, public trust, human capital and public health, as well as deter foreign investment. Trafficking in persons According to estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 20.9 million people are forced into slavery worldwide causing immense, long-term damage to individuals, communities, and nations. Trafficked persons tend to flow from poorer regions to richer regions and from conflict regions to more stable regions. Governments need to give priority to implementing laws for preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting both traffickers and the corrupt public officials who assist them. Illicit trade in wildlife Demand for elephant ivory and rhino horn has driven dramatic growth in illegal wildlife markets in recent years due primarily to a growing consumer base in East Asia. Taken together, all forms of wildlife trafficking constitutes one of the most lucrative forms of illicit trade, and the sector has more than doubled since 2007. Monitoring and enforcement in source countries can be effective means to reduce poaching, but training and information systems are needed to build adequate capacity. Counterfeit medicines The trade in counterfeit medicine is a huge industry, generating as much as USD 200 billion a year in tangible goods alone according to OECD's study of 2005 data, which is soon to be updated. It has a direct negative impact on health, depriving users of appropriate treatment and contributing to global microbial resistance. Pharmaceutical companies also suffer a loss in revenue and reputation, and increased costs for security. Successfully combatting counterfeiting will require more extensive information sharing across agencies and nations. Finally, the development and adoption of an international public health treaty would be a significant step toward protecting patients and public health globally. Tobacco products The illicit trade in tobacco is perhaps the most widespread and most documented sector in the shadow economy. It has been estimated that 570 billion illicit cigarettes were consumed worldwide in 2011. Illicit tobacco is an important source of revenue for criminal networks, and deprives government services of excise tax revenues at the same time. To counter the illicit trade in tobacco products, governments developing a multifaceted approach, including: building partnerships, increasing data validity and reliability, launching educational and public awareness campaigns, increasing capacity-building efforts, and prioritising countering illicit tobacco products and its associated crimes. Narcotics The global narcotics trade is thought to be the single largest black market in the world, and is a source of revenue for international criminal organization. In addition to the negative impact on human health and well-being caused by the narcotics themselves, the criminal violence that accompanies all aspects of drug trafficking erodes state institutions and is often difficult to reverse. Tackling the narcotics trade effectively will require not only punitive approaches and sanctions but also state building, economic development and good governance practices. Alcohol It is estimated that billions of dollars from trafficking and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages flow through the global economy each year, distorting local economies, diminishing government and legitimate business revenues, and in some cases posing a serious health risk to consumers. It is estimated that illicit sources account for 25% of total worldwide adult alcoholic consumption. Contributing factors include the higher cost of legal products from taxes, weak laws, lack of enforcement and social acceptance of contraband in some countries. Sports manipulation The globalisation of sports has led to an increase in unregulated sports betting, which is increasingly used for money laundering and has been connected to corruption in sports (match-rigging). An internationally co-ordinated, pro-active response is needed, including initiatives targeting bettors and offenders, police action and co-operation with financial institutions. It is also important to communicate on the subject of sports integrity to all stakeholders, including the public and the media. Details: Paris: OECD, 2015. 259p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 5, 2016 at: http://www.oecd.org/gov/risk/illicit-trade-converging-criminal-networks.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.oecd.org/gov/risk/illicit-trade-converging-criminal-networks.pdf Shelf Number: 138115 Keywords: Counterfeit MedicinesCriminal NetworksDrug TraffickingHuman TraffickingIllegal TradeIllicit TobaccoIllicit TradeOrganized CrimeSports BettingWildlife Crime |
Author: KPMG Title: Illicit Tobacco in Australia. 2015 Half Year Report Summary: This bi-annual report provides an overview of the nature and dynamics of the legal and illicit tobacco markets and an independent assessment of the size of the illicit tobacco market in Australia. It is commissioned jointly by British American Tobacco Australia, Imperial Tobacco Australia Limited and Philip Morris Limited. Key highlights: - Illicit tobacco consumption declined marginally to 14.3% of total consumption in the twelve months to June 2015. This was the first decline seen since 2012 - The overall decline was driven by a significant decrease in contraband consumption, such as manufactured cigarettes - The decline in illicit tobacco consumption was partially offset by a large rise in unbranded ("Chop Chop") tobacco. Details: London: KPMG, 2015. 83p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: https://home.kpmg.com/uk/en/home/insights/2015/11/illicit-tobacco-in-australia.html Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://home.kpmg.com/uk/en/home/insights/2015/11/illicit-tobacco-in-australia.html Shelf Number: 139255 Keywords: Counterfeiting Illegal Markets Illegal Tobacco (Australia) Illicit Tobacco Smuggling Tax Evasion |
Author: Stewart, Glenn Title: Illicit and Illegal Tobacco in North Central and North East London: A report on smokers' perceptions, supply and demand Summary: The smoking related health burden is well-documented. It causes some 100,000 deaths a year in the UK, 86,000 deaths a year in England and for every smoking death it is estimated that there are 20 people with smoking related illnesses. Equally her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that in 2012-13, the illicit market share for cigarettes was 9% indicating a 'tax-gap' of L1.1 billion (e.g. the gap between the tax owed and collected) and that illicit hand-rolling tobacco accounted for 36% of the market with a tax-gap of L900m. An understanding of the trade in illicit and illegal trade in tobacco products is therefore important from both a health and economic perspective In April 2013, the South East London Illicit Tobacco Group commissioned a survey of their respective boroughs (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark) to gain insights into the market for illegal and illicit2 tobacco in the respective boroughs. In May 2015 the boroughs of Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest commissioned the same survey in their boroughs. The same survey methodology and company was used in both instances with a few additional questions added to the survey on attitudes. The seven boroughs involved in the survey in NC NE London are very different: 2011 census data indicates that population size varies from 220,338 in Camden to 312,466 in Enfield; over-18 smoking prevalence ranges from 15.8% in Enfield to 21.7% in Islington, the 'White British' population from 48% in Islington to 31% in Tower Hamlets (compared to 80% in England and 45% in London) and the over 50's population from 28.8% in Enfield to 15.8% in Tower Hamlets. Details: London: London Borough of Enfield, 2015. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2016 at: http://www.smokefreeislington.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Illicit_and_illegal_tobacco_report_NE_NC_London_November_2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.smokefreeislington.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Illicit_and_illegal_tobacco_report_NE_NC_London_November_2015.pdf Shelf Number: 139970 Keywords: CigarettesIllegal TobaccoIllicit Tobacco |
Author: de Lacy, Elen Title: Illegal Tobacco: Undermining Tobacco Control Measures in Wales Summary: ASH Wales Cymru has identified illegal tobacco as a priority area for tobacco control in Wales. Around 531,000 adults, or approximately 21% of the adult population in Wales, are smokers1. Illegal (or illicit*) tobacco constitutes a serious public health risk by undermining initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates. Smuggled tobacco is most likely to be sold in deprived areas2 where rates of tobacco consumption are already creating significant ill health in Wales. ASH Wales Cymru is committed to raising awareness of the problem of illegal tobacco among key stakeholders and the Welsh public. Article 1 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) defines illicit trade as 'any practice or conduct prohibited by law and which relates to production, shipment, receipt, possession, distribution, sale or purchase including any practice or conduct intended to facilitate such activity' 3. The main forms of tobacco smuggling are: - Counterfeit - Non-Duty Paid - Cheap Whites/Illegal Whites In 2014 ASH Wales Cymru received a grant from the Tobacco Advisory Group at Cancer Research UK to commission the first ever study into the scale and problem of illegal tobacco across Wales. This study is based on similar work from the 'Tackling Illicit Tobacco for Better Health' programme which has had a measurable effect on the problem in three regions of England (North East, North West, South West)4 . ASH Wales Cymru has produced this report to set out clear recommendations to reduce the availability and consumption of illegal tobacco across Wales. An all-Wales tackling illegal tobacco stakeholder group oversaw this work. As part of this study ASH Wales Cymru commissioned two pieces of work: 1) A pan-Wales illegal tobacco survey conducted by NEMS Market Research** NEMS market research was commissioned in March 2014 to undertake a Wales-wide survey to provide a baseline on illegal tobacco use and to better understand the cheap tobacco market. 2) An enforcement report An enforcement report was commissioned in June 2014 to examine the crime and enforcement aspects of the supply of illegal tobacco in Wales. This has been produced by Steven Hay (Littleton Murdoch Ltd.) who has over 20 years of operational and managerial experience of working in Local Authority Regulatory Services. Details: Cardiff: Ash Wales; Cancer Research UK, 2015. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://ashwales.org.uk/assets/factsheets-leaflets/illegal-tobacco-undermining-tobacco-control-measures-in-wales-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://ashwales.org.uk/assets/factsheets-leaflets/illegal-tobacco-undermining-tobacco-control-measures-in-wales-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 140102 Keywords: Counterfeit TobaccoIllegal TobaccoIllicit TobaccoOrganized CrimeTobacco ControlTobacco Smuggling |
Author: Calderoni, Francesco Title: The Eastern Balkan Hub for Illicit Tobacco Summary: Key hubs are crucial sets of countries on the regional, continental or global map of the illicit trade in tobacco products. Analysis of key hubs instead of single countries enables a more comprehensive understanding of the factors determining the transnational illicit flows and a more effective identification of the strategies to fight and prevent the ITTP (Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products). The following elements often characterise key hubs: • medium to high levels of the ITTP in the hub, • significant price differentials of tobacco products across the hub, • extensive engagement of local manufacturers in the ITTP, • substantial flows of illicit tobacco to, within or from the hub to other countries. This report focuses on the Eastern Balkan hub for illicit cigarettes. Bulgaria is the most relevant country in the hub because it has significant inflows and outflows of illicit tobacco products. The sorrounding countries (Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Turkey) are included because they enables and facilitate these flows. The report takes the name from the geographical area of the countries included. Details: Milano: Transcrime – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 2016. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 23, 2016 at: http://www.transcrime.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TheEasternBalkanHubforIllicitTobacco.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.transcrime.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/TheEasternBalkanHubforIllicitTobacco.pdf Shelf Number: 147806 Keywords: CigarettesIllegal TobaccoIllegal TraceIllicit TobaccoIllicit TradeTobacco Smuggling |
Author: Framework Convention Alliance Title: The use of technology to combat the illicit tobacco trade Summary: A number of industries face a growing trend: new requirements to identify a consumer product in trade, to verify its authenticity and to trace it. The tobacco sector has joined these industries. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a World Health Organization treaty, identifies elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products as a key element of global tobacco control. The treaty requires in Article 15.2(b) that Parties should "consider, as appropriate, developing a practical tracking and tracing regime that would further secure the distribution system and assist in the investigation of illicit trade." Negotiations have begun on a supplementary treaty, or protocol, for combating illicit tobacco trade. In the context of the Article 15.2(b) requirement, this paper is intended to provide a reference source on existing systems. A tracking system allows authorities to monitor the movement of tobacco products. Tracing helps authorities pinpoint where tobacco was diverted into illegal channels. During the negotiations on the FCTC and the protocol, we have noticed many misconceptions about tracking and tracing. Sometimes systems were described as tracking and tracing but they did not allow totally, or in part, the monitoring of tobacco products at the international level. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concepts, to describe the current use of technology to combat illicit tobacco trade and to identify merits and limitations of these practices. This paper describes the use of codes and markings on tobacco packaging and tax stamps to allow a better monitoring of the tobacco trade. It also gives an overview of coding technologies that are used, or are in development, in the tobacco industry and other sectors. Details: Geneva, SWIT: FCTC, 2008?. 6 Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2017 at: www.fctc.org Year: 20080 Country: International URL: www.fctc.org Shelf Number: 147165 Keywords: Illegal Tobacco Trade Illicit Tobacco Illicit TradeTechnologyTobacco Industry |
Author: Center for the Study of Democracy Title: The Illicit Trade of Tobacco Projects Along the Balkan Route: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Romania Summary: The Balkans have long been a key route for various illicit goods and flows - drugs, firearms, human trafficking and human smuggling, etc. Since 2000 Greece became a key entry point and a source of 'illicit white' cigarettes. Upon entering Greece, the 'illicit whites' were further trafficked either to Italy and Western Europe or through Bulgaria and Romania to Central European markets. This was the onset of a resilient and hard to curb transnational criminal infrastructure. Apart from that Bulgarian organized crime is extensively involved in setting up clandestine factories for production of 'counterfeited' or 'illicit white' brands in various countries across the EU. Furthermore Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Romania are the four top-ranking in the EU in terms of levels of perceived corruption according to the Control of Corruption indicator of the World Governance Indictors (WB, 2014), as well as according to the most recent Corruption Perception Index (Transparency International, 2016). Against this background, the current initiative aims are threefold: 1) to bring to light the institutional gaps impeding the effective response to the illicit trade of tobacco products and propose a method for evaluating institution's performance at regional level; 2) to examine the role of corruption as crime enabling factor for illicit trade of tobacco products, as well as suggest a method to assess it on regional level; 3) to advocate for more effective, evidence-based legislative and policy actions, and to put pressure on the relevant authorities in Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Romania to step up their efforts to curb these organised crime activities and related corruption. The research initiative The illicit trade of tobacco products along the Balkan route: addressing institutional gaps and corruption is led by CSD group and is among the 32 projects, selected from more than 200 proposals in the first funding round of PMI IMPACT- a global initiative dedicated to support fight against illicit trade and related crimes. The research team involves experts from Bulgaria (CSD), Italy (Intellegit), Romania (SCE), as well as three independent criminology researchers from Greece. Over the next two years, the project will elaborate tools for performance evaluation and corruption risk assessment of law enforcement and revenue authorities with regards to illegal tobacco trade. Key points - The national tobacco policies in Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Romania reflect the main trends and developments set by the international and EU regulatory mechanisms. However each country faces different challenges in the implementation due to differences in the institutional setup and administrative capacity. - The tobacco sector in the four countries has underwent very similar evolution, where following the liberalisation, the Big Tobacco producers hold between 80 % and 90 % of the market, although local producers still maintain their presence on national level. - The peak of the ITTP in the four countries was triggered by the economic crisis in 2008 - 2010, which led to 4 to 5 times increase in the consumption of illicit tobacco products. However, while Bulgaria and Italy eventually managed to stifle their illicit markets, Greece and Romania continue to face high levels of ITTP. - Greece, Italy and Romania are among the top five transit points in the EU and Bulgaria is an important regional transit point. There is a long history of well-established collaboration between the criminal networks of the four countries. - Three major categories of risks and vulnerabilities have been identified with regards to ITTP 1) Risks deriving from the overall political, institutional and legal environment in each country; 2) Risks related to the licit tobacco sector; 3) Risks related to the crime context in each country Details: Sofia: CSD, 2018. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief No. 80: Accessed October 5, 2018 at: http://www.csd.bg/artShow.php?id=18053 Year: 2018 Country: Europe URL: http://www.csd.bg/artShow.php?id=18053 Shelf Number: 152838 Keywords: CigarettesIllegal Tobacco Trade Illicit Tobacco Illicit TradeOrganized CrimeTobacco Industry |
Author: Neumann, Vanessa Title: The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra: How the Tri-Border Area's Interlocking Arcs of Crime Create LatAm's #1 International Fusion Center Summary: The Tri-Border Area ('TBA') that straddles the intersection of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil is considered the 'Golden Hydra,' as it is the lucrative regional entry point of many 'heads' of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) that all lead to the underworld of illicit trade for more than forty years. This is partly a consequence of its ethnic composition and open borders, set by a policy to facilitate immigration from the Middle East, and also the connecting infrastructure to facilitate cross-border trade. The TBA gained notoriety in the 1990s after the bombings of the Israeli embassy (1992) and the AMIA center (1994), both in Buenos Aires, by Lebanese Hezbollah militants. The money, operatives and bomb parts all moved through the TBA. After 9/11, it again became the target of US counter-terrorism surveillance, as a 'safe haven' for terrorists from groups like Al Qaeda and Hamas, in addition to Hezbollah. With the world's attention firmly focused on the Middle East since then, the TBA has grown into a mini-state that benefits a corrupt elite while maintaining a large and efficient money laundering center for the world's organized crime and terrorist groups, not just in the region, but throughout the world, yielding TCOs and FTOs an estimated US$ 43 billion a year. Illicit trade of all sorts (including the illicit trade in tobacco products, 'ITTP') has been growing rapidly in recent years, corrupting good governance in all three countries and exploiting the degrading security and economic situation in both Argentina and Brazil. The TBA has become a regional crime fusion center where corrupt politicians work with drug cartels from Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, as well as organized crime groups from China, in conjunction with a large Lebanese merchant community, part of which gives support to Hezbollah. Though illicit funding for Hezbollah is generally high on the US agenda, that is not the case for the countries of the TBA. For historical reasons, Hezbollah is on the political agenda of Argentina. Brazil, however, does not consider Hezbollah a terrorist group; it considers only three groups as terrorists: the Taliban, Al Qaeda and ISIS. Paraguay considers Lebanese Hezbollah a group that poses a problem for its neighbors Argentina and Brazil, but not for Paraguay. authorities and mandates, Paraguay is constitutionally structured for corruption and illicit trade. Despite its smaller population and economy, it is the source and economic driver of illicit trade and money laundering affecting the other two countries. At the heart is Paraguay's lame-duck president, Horacio Cartes, the architect of the region's ITTP; he is the owner of Tabesa tobacco company. Furthermore, the removal of Carts from the presidency and its assumption by his successor (and fellow party member) Mario Abdo Benitez , will not reduce this illicit trade: Cartes will continue to wield tremendous power as a senator; several of his close friends will also enter the Senate, and his party won the presidency in the April 2018 elections. Security is the highest-ranked agenda item in Brazil's upcoming presidential elections in October 2018. This is primarily because of the military operations in Rio's favelas, where the criminal group Comando Vermelho (CV) and its affiliates are so widespread and heavily-armed, they are challenging the state for supremacy. The CV is enabled and funded by drugs and weapons that come mainly from Paraguay. This growing illicit trade has also turned Brazil into a prime export point for narcotics from South America to North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Because of the complexity of the TBA's organized crime cluster, as well as the weakness of regional counter-terrorist protocols, we recommend engaging international authorities with regional mandates over the core crimes of corruption, money laundering, and proceeds of crime, with the aim of dismantling the source from the fusion centre. These authorities include: the IMF, UNODC, UN CTED, and FATF. Given that the US is largely absent from the region, it is recommended to open pathways to the US and European enforcement communities and the aforementioned authorities through well-structured workshops in Washington, DC and other key cities to build awareness. The other way to influence regional ITTP is to become a larger stakeholder in the Paraguayan tobacco industry. Details: New York: Counter Terrorism Project, 2018. 119p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Dec. 12, 2018 at: https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf Year: 2018 Country: South America URL: https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf Shelf Number: 154457 Keywords: Illicit TobaccoIllicit TradeMoney LaunderingOrganized CrimeProceeds of CrimeSmugglingTerroristsTobacco |