Over the past year, governments and relevant agencies across the ASEAN region have intensified their efforts to combat cigarette black market. However, the problem remains severe, with 1 in 4 cigarettes consumed in these countries being illegal. This issue is a form of transnational crime, with countries like India & Thailand serving as both a transit hub and a destination. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control identifies India as both a transit hub and a key destination for illicit tobacco trade.
Addressing the session, Rodney Van Dooren, Head of Illicit Trade Prevention Asia Pacific, PMI, said, “Loopholes in ASEAN fuel the illicit cigarette market, causing IPR violations, tax losses, weak enforcement, and normalized corruption. Origin countries profit, while destination countries suffer. Illicit cigarette exports in ASEAN do not match imports in consuming markets, avoiding import duties and excise taxes, leading to economic sabotage. PMI’s strategy to counter illicit trade focuses on leveraging research and intelligence, securing supply chains, partnering with law enforcement, and raising public awareness”.
PMI has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal tobacco trade with a focus on five critical areas- research & intelligence, protecting supply chain, partnerships, cooperation with law enforcement and raising awareness. The organisation partners with law enforcement agencies in the fight against the trade of illegal cigarettes. Efforts are largely concentrated on securing its supply chain and protecting its products via technology and innovation: from multiple applications of authentication and security technologies to track and trace products across the supply chain.
