Tobacco.org

• Smoking out the illegal traders of tobacco products 

THE illegal tobacco trade fell by approximately 50% in the first half of 2006, thanks to the coordinated work of the Hungarian Customs and Finance Guard (VPOP), border guards and other law-enforcement agencies. In 2005, illegal trade in tobacco products represented 22% of total consumption, causing serious damage to the national economy and cigarette manufacturers, among them British American Tobacco Hungary, which said such illegal trade hurt the state as well as the industry. Rita Bede, spokesperson for BAT Hungary, said, “According to estimates, in 2004-2005 the state lost approximately Ft155bn ($808.4m) in tax revenues due to tobacco smuggling.

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