Cigarette smuggling adapts to the pandemic. There are fewer sales of illicit cigarettes on the street or between “brick and mortar” outlets. On the other hand, online illegality is increasing more and more. Less easy to control, more accessible to reckless buyers and unscrupulous sellers. The two most sought-after product types on the net, liquids for electronic cigarettes and cigarettes for heated tobacco devices, are tempting. The updated map of the new illegality is in the 2021 report “Illicit trade in tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in Italy” by Intellegit-University of Trento with the contribution of Bat-British American Tobacco Italia, presented today to the Senate.
E-cig, four out of ten bought on illegal channels.
In the report, edited by Andrea Di Nicola and Giuseppe Espa, a focus on new generation online products explains how since 2018 the consumption of traditional cigarettes in the legal market has been decreasing (-8.4%). On the other hand, heated tobacco products (+ 250%) and inhalation liquids for electronic cigarettes (+ 200%), including the increase in illegal supply and demand, are growing rapidly. About four out of ten e-cigarette users have purchased inhalation liquids for e-cigarettes from one or more unauthorized channels, such as foreign websites or those that ship their products from foreign countries to Italy (28%).
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Deceptions and subterfuges on the net
The reasons for the purchase “lie in saving (53%), the possibility of buying products in large quantities (28%) and / or buying liquids with additives not available in legitimate retailers (27%)”. Two out of ten consumers of inhalation liquids are unaware that these products can only be sold through authorized channels. And 35% said they did not know that illicit eLiquids resellers exist, explains the Intellegit report. With an alarming observation: «Six out of ten people have declared that they will continue to purchase products in the same way in the future. Confirming the real possibility that the illicit market for inhalation liquids will grow in the coming years ”. The macro areas of foreign retailers are in the United States, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany and Russia.
Traces of cannabis in liquids for cigarettes
Giovanni Russo (National Anti-Mafia Directorate) underlines the concerns «about the health of citizens. In the illicit liquid market for electronic cigarettes we have found harmful substances and in some cases even the active ingredient of cannabis ». Observes Roberta Palazzetti, number one of Bat Italia and Area Director for Southern Europe: «The report stimulates a positive synergy between institutions, academic excellence, companies and law enforcement agencies, we are proud to continue to do our part. With the new frontier of smuggling, the illicit trade in liquids for electronic cigarettes and sticks for heated tobacco products – underlines Palazzetti – it is essential that industry and institutions cooperate ». Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, adds: «We need measures to protect operators and producers in the sector. Illicit trade causes heavy annual losses to the state budget in terms of customs duties and lost taxes ». The estimate is at least 800 million not received from the Treasury. Palazzetti also expressed his applause for the “balanced fiscal policy which, by keeping prices accessible to consumers on the legal market, makes it possible to stem it, unlike other countries where very high prices lead the illicit market to grow and prosper”.
A now generalized alarm
“A review of the entire sector is needed to bring the national regulations on traceability and authorized sales network back to unity”, Marcello Minenna, number one of Customs, notes in the report. General Giuseppe Arbore, head of the Operations Department of the Guardia di Finanza, highlights in the document: “Smuggling is an important business for criminal organizations, including those of a mafia type”. For some time now, Finance has been carrying out «constant monitoring and coring of the Internet network. With the pandemic crisis – observes General Arbore – the criminal associations have expanded their network of distribution and sale of foreign tobacco products at retail, also through e-commerce, with the delivery of contraband products directly to the buyer’s home ” . In 2019 alone, the GDF carried out 2,863 operations to combat smuggling.