Illegal tobacco increasingly hard to spot, with some fakes featuring Australian health warnings
Summary
Illegal tobacco is becoming harder to identify because counterfeiters are making fake cigarette packs that even include Australian health warnings. The government is considering new laws to give authorities more power to fight the production and sale of illegal tobacco linked to organized crime.Key Facts
- Criminal groups in southeast Asia, especially Cambodia, produce fake cigarettes on a large scale.
- These fake products copy common brands and use Australian health warnings to avoid detection.
- Australian customs minister Julian Hill wants stronger laws to tackle illegal tobacco.
- A new bill giving law enforcement more power will be debated soon in the Senate.
- Some Australian states, like Queensland and New South Wales, are actively cracking down on illegal tobacco sales.
- NSW police recently closed 10 stores selling illegal tobacco and seized large amounts of cigarettes and loose tobacco.
- Since the start of the year, NSW authorities have confiscated 2.4 tonnes of illegal tobacco.
- The illegal trade benefits criminal syndicates that adapt quickly to enforcement efforts.
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