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Tag: smuggling

  • BAT Warns Ireland Could Become Smuggling Hotspot

    BAT Warns Ireland Could Become Smuggling Hotspot

    British American Tobacco urged the Irish government to fast-track enforcement measures alongside the delayed excise tax on vaping products, warning that weak oversight could further fuel the country’s growing illicit vape market. David Melinn, BAT Ireland’s country manager, said the Health Service Executive’s plan for just 40 annual inspections is “not sufficient” given the scale of the market. Citing a KPMG report, BAT claims illicit vapes now make up 34–45% of Ireland’s €550 million vape market.

    The industry is pushing for a tax stamp regime to help curb black market activity. Without it, BAT warns, Ireland risks becoming an even more attractive hub for criminal smuggling—especially as a vape flavor ban also looms. BAT says strong enforcement is critical to protect public health and ensure legal market stability.

  • South African Court Allows Seizures of Tobacco Smuggling Trucks

    South African Court Allows Seizures of Tobacco Smuggling Trucks

    South Africa’s Hawks (a specialized police unit) and the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) secured high court orders to seize vehicles used in the smuggling of illicit cigarettes from Zimbabwe, marking a significant step in efforts to curb cross-border tobacco crime.

    The Limpopo High Court granted a forfeiture order for a Freightliner Argosy truck and two trailers, intercepted at Beitbridge border post in March while carrying Zimbabwean-made cigarettes. The vehicles, worth $48,000, were confiscated after the arrest of the driver. In a separate case, authorities also secured a forfeiture order for a VW bus valued at $9,100 in a 2023 case of transporting illicit cigarettes.

    Officials say one-third of the cigarettes in South Africa are smuggled from Zimbabwe. Smugglers reportedly buy cigarette boxes for $120 in Zimbabwe and resell them for up to $840 in South Africa. Authorities have pledged continued action against smugglers, as tobacco tax evasion and black-market sales remain a major challenge to public health and revenue collection.

  • Article Outlines Role of “Middlemen” in Smuggling Vapes from China to U.S.

    Article Outlines Role of “Middlemen” in Smuggling Vapes from China to U.S.

    Today (June 23), Reuters published an article titled, “How middlemen funnel illegal Chinese vapes into the United States.” In it, reporters Emma Rumney, Kaylee Kang, and Tom Polansek found that China, according to its customs data, exported more than $3.6 billion in vapes to the U.S. in 2024. However, in that time period, according to U.S. customs figures, only $333 million in Chinese vapes were officially received in the U.S.

    “Mismatches in customs data between the U.S. and its trading partners are not uncommon,” the article said, “but a 90% gap was unusual, two customs data specialists told Reuters. Unauthorized vapes often arrive in the U.S. disguised as other items like shoes and toys, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which leads efforts to control the vape market.”

    The FDA, which has faced criticism for slow enforcement, is now turning to artificial intelligence and increased inter-agency collaboration to curb illegal imports. The FDA said that over the past two years, efforts by FDA and Customs Border Protection had led to the seizure of around 7.1 million e-cigarettes with an estimated retail value of over $136 million. Executives at British American Tobacco estimate illicit vapes made up 70% of U.S. sales last year, valued at over $8 billion.

    According to the investigation, a small customs firm near O’Hare International Airport in Chicago processed 60% of all vape and vape parts shipments from China in 2024, as recorded by the FDA. Many of these shipments included illegal brands such as Lost Mary and Geek Bar, which the FDA has banned due to their appeal to minors and lack of authorization. The article outlines how these importers operate and have been able to avoid FDA scrutiny.

  • Cross-Border Ring Dismantled, 25M Cigarettes Seized

    Cross-Border Ring Dismantled, 25M Cigarettes Seized

    Officials seized 25 million illegal cigarettes in western Romania and uncovered a connected clandestine factory in Italy in dismantling a cross-border smuggling network. Romanian and Italian investigators, backed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), raided a warehouse and nine homes in Romania, in addition to the Italian factory.

     “As a result of the investigations carried out, in cooperation with law enforcement authorities from Italy (Guardia di Finanze), with OLAF’s support, the criminal network was dismantled,” the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Romania) said in a press release.

    “Additionally, approximately 2,500 boxes of cigarettes were discovered and seized, while a clandestine factory was found in Italy, which was allegedly produced for the European illegal market and operated by Romanian, Moldovan, and Italian citizens,” the police said. 

    Romanian prosecutors ordered the detention of two people connected to the searches. They are being investigated for “establishing an organized criminal group and smuggling consisting of the collection, possession, transport, receipt, storage, delivery, distribution, and sale of goods or merchandise that must be placed under a customs regime, knowing that they originate from smuggling or are intended for smuggling.” At least six others were also detained.

  • Thailand: Vape Users Can be Charged with Receiving Smuggled Goods 

    Thailand: Vape Users Can be Charged with Receiving Smuggled Goods 

    The Thai government will take tougher action against e-cigarette users, who can now be charged with receiving smuggled products, deputy government spokesman Anukul Prueksa-anurak said. The government will step up its suppression efforts of e-cigarettes and related products, prosecuting not only smugglers and distributors but now also the users. 

    Under the Customs Act, the offense carries a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine equivalent to four times as much as the prices of smuggled products plus any duty. E-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand, but that has not stopped them from being openly sold, even in areas near schools, leading to an alarming increase in vaping among young people. The recent hospitalization of teens with lung damage has drawn further attention to the problem.

    Anukul said the percentage of vape users among people aged 15-29 years rose from 5.8% in 2019 to 12.2% in 2024.

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently ordered a serious crackdown on e-cigarettes, particularly online sales channels. Anukul said that in the two months since the crackdown began, sales and the number of e-cigarette users had dropped by more than 80%.