All news on the topic: Tobacco

The illicit trade costs the Treasury an estimated £2.2 billion annually in lost tax revenue The black market fags are sold at what are called "pocket money" prices, typically £5 to £7 for a pack of 20, compared to the average legal price of around £16.45. Unregulated products often contain much higher levels of toxins like tar and nicotine than permitted by UK standards.

A gang who evaded paying more than £1m worth of excise duty on tobacco were found in possession of hundreds and thousands of cigarettes housed in residential properties and storage units in Cardiff.