Webinar 3014/2022: Cigarette crime

Illegal trade of cigarettes is an ongoing criminal phenomenon in Europe heavily affecting all EU Member States and neighbouring countries. The present webinar will demonstrate illegal trade of cigarette cases from Spain and Romania with particular attention to the detection and raiding of illegal factories. This topic is particularly actual as intra-EU illegal manufacturing is the driving force behind the black market of tobacco products.

According to the empty pack survey results of KPMG Project Sun the total volume of contraband and counterfeit of cigarettes amounted to 34,2 billion sticks in 2020 which was 7.8 % of the total cigarette consumption in the EU. These are the latest figures available for the total European market and they give a reason to worry. During the last ten years the ratio as well as the total amount of illegally consumed cigarettes had been gradually decreasing in the EU level. Though at the level of Member States from year to year the picture was more varied, on the European level the overall trend had been steadily positive. The 2020 figures however show a change in the trend and it is clear that the reversal is caused by the rapid increase of illegal cigarette manufacturing within the EU. It is clear now that Covid-19 restrictions did not stop illegal flows but on the other hand negatively impacted law enforcement operative capacities. In view of this harmful development it is vital to demonstrate good practices of law enforcement from all around Europe in the field of tobacco fraud.