Latest news with #Illicit
Sydney Morning Herald
19-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Government fails allow the illegal tobacco trade to act with impunity
After years of warnings about tobacco's lethal cost, Australia tried to tax cigarettes out of existence. But criminals quickly worked a way around that and have turned tobacco shops across the country into black marketeers selling products that kill and make children addicts while they fight gang wars to control their illegal trade. There are other victims too. The federal government is losing multiple billions of dollars in tax because black market cigarettes avoid tobacco excise. State governments are forced to pay billions treating people with smoking-related illness, while suburban shopkeepers face escalating rents, insurance hikes and falling amenity as tobacco outlets, as well possible after-dark arson attacks. And if the people running many of the shops are unperturbed about breaking the law – one Newton tobacconist happily displayed her wares when asked by our reporters if she sold cheap cigarettes – there is no denying swathes of smokers appear just as unconcerned. A Herald investigation by Lucy Macken and Riley Walter found the number of businesses registered to sell tobacco products of the illicit or legal variety since 2015 had reached almost 20,000, up from 19,000 a year ago. Nearly 40 per cent of tobacco consumption across Australia was illicit last year, according to FTI Consulting's latest industry-commissioned report, Illicit Tobacco in Australia. That's an increase of 28.6 per cent from 2023. Meanwhile, a war is being waged in our suburbs. Two firebombings this month in Auburn and Mount Pritchard, and the NSW Police decision to launch a strike force to investigate one notorious gang's involvement in illicit tobacco, suggests Sydney is going down the same path Melbourne has walked for more than two years, with regular ram raids and arson attacks on tobacco outlets as criminal gangs fought to control the illicit tobacco trade. Where immense profit lies, crime follows, but apart from fiddling at the edges, governments and authorities have been slow to react to the advent of the tobacco black market. The Albanese government announced an extra $188.5 million for Border Force to work with the states on illegal cigarettes, funded by an increased excise duty. That was in January last year. Initially successful, it failed to blunt the trade. In NSW, the number of authorised inspectors will double to 28 and a new licensing scheme, effective from July 1, will tie the licence to compliance. NSW also increased fines for people selling blackmarket tobacco products from $11,000 to $154,000, and up to $22,000 for selling to children. Given the plethora of new outlets, they have yet to prove much of a deterrent, especially when compared to South Australia, which also last November introduced fines of $750,000 for first offences and $1.1 million for later convictions. Responsibility for breaking the illicit tobacco trade is dissipated through the labyrinths of federal, state and local governments. Premier Chris Minns has laudably agreed to the opposition's terms for a parliamentary inquiry. It must come up with solutions to stop gangs and their street dealers acting with such impunity.
Deccan Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Illicit trade costing Pakistan Rs 3.4 trillion: Report
The losses estimated by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) in its report titled "Combatting Illicit Trade in Pakistan" are equal to 26 per cent of this fiscal year's annual tax target, reported The Express Tribune newspaper.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan ranks 101 in global Illicit Trade Index 2025, faces annual loss of Rs 751 billion
Pakistan's struggle with illicit trade has resulted in a significant annual revenue loss of Rs 751 billion, according to the 2025 Illicit Trade Index. Ranked 101 out of 158 countries, Pakistan faces vulnerabilities in internal trade networks and sector-specific compliance. The report highlights the need for deeper reforms within the country's regulatory and enforcement systems. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan has been ranked 101 out of 158 countries in the 2025 Illicit Trade Index, raising serious concerns about its economic environment and ability to attract investment, according to a report by The News country's struggle with illegal trade is resulting in an alarming annual revenue loss of Rs 751 billion, with the tobacco sector alone accounting for Rs 300 billion of this findings were presented in a new report titled "Pakistan's Battle Against Illicit Trade: An Analysis of Challenges and Pathways to Resilience," released jointly by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) and the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (TRACIT) on report highlights five key sectors driving these losses: Tobacco (Rs 300 billion), petroleum products like petrol and diesel (Rs 270 billion), tires and lubricants (Rs 106 billion), pharmaceuticals (Rs 60-65 billion), and tea (Rs 10 billion).Pakistan scored 44.5 on the Illicit Trade Index, falling below the global average of performance across six dimensions of the Index can be gauged by the highest score observed in Trade, Customs and Borders (75.4), indicating relatively strong border controls and customs management mechanisms. However, Supply Chain Intermediaries (25.9) and Sectoral Illicit Trade Indicators (29.3) score notably low, pointing to serious vulnerabilities in internal trade networks and sector-specific compliance. Moreover, moderate scores in Taxation and Economic Environment (47.3), Regulatory Framework and Enforcement (46.4) and Criminal Enablers of Illicit Trade (42.7) suggest systemic weaknesses in policy implementation and enforcement capacity, The News International the findings suggest that while Pakistan is making some progress at the borders, much deeper reforms are needed within the country's internal trade, regulatory, and enforcement systems to curb illicit trade and support sustainable economic development.
Forbes
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Missouri Weed Brand Illicit Gardens Holds Willy Wonka-Inspired 420 Contest
Actor Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka on the set of the film 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory', based ... More on the novel by Roald Dahl, 1971. (Photo by Silver) Illicit Gardens, a Missouri-based cannabis brand is living up to the title of 'You Gotta Get a Gimmick,' a song from the classic musical 'Gypsy' by holding a Willy Wonka-inspired 420 contest, which incidentally coincides with Easter Weekend. The whimsical contest involves all Missouri From the Earth dispensary locations in which 10 winners will discover a 'golden ticket' on the inside lid of randomly selected jars of Illicit products: 3.5g Flower, 5g Ready2Roll, 7g Popcorn, Gummies, and Gemstones. Anyone who purchases these aforementioned products can win. The winners will receive $1,000 worth of free Illicit products and exclusive merchandise. Also, included in the prize package is a VIP tour of Illicit's weed factory for the winner and a guest. 'We're always looking at unique ways to cross promote our brands and dispensaries, and this allows us to accomplish that,' said David Craig, vice president of marketing at Illicit Gardens, when asked how the idea of this contest came about. 'The 'golden ticket' idea is one we've talked over since day one, but just never have been able to do it effectively until now.' The goal for the contest is to build hype around the new products released by Illicit the last six months, added Craig. This includes their infused hard candies Gemstones and diamond infused pre-rolls. Illicit Gardens' promotional photo advertising its Willy Wonka-inspired 420 contest. Yet, as fun as this contest may seem to outsiders, the logistics were not easy. Craig admitted it was a challenge but one that the Illicit team were more than equipped to handle. "Coordinating an effort like this across all stores during what is essentially the Super Bowl of cannabis is no easy feat,' he admitted, 'but we've been working out the kinks for the last few months and our cultivation, manufacturing, and retail teams have been working closely together to make sure this goes off smoothly.' The contest starts on Friday April 18 and ends on Sunday April 20. For further information, visit this link.
Morocco World
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco Co-leads UN Resolution on Drug Impact on Environment
Doha – The 68th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna adopted on Friday a groundbreaking resolution on the environmental impact of illicit drug-related activities. The first-of-its-kind resolution, titled 'Combating the Impact of Illicit Drug-Related Activities on the Environment,' represents a collaborative effort between Morocco, France, and Brazil. 'This resolution encourages member states to incorporate environmental protection into their drug policies and to develop and implement international strategies to address the environmental impact of illicit drug-related activities,' said Azzeddine Farhane, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna. The resolution builds upon the 2019 ministerial declaration and the 2024 mid-term review, which acknowledged the need to combat both root causes and harmful effects of illicit drug activities on the environment. It also draws from the outcome document of the 30th special session of the General Assembly in 2016, where member states reaffirmed 'the importance of environmental protection in the context of combating illicit drug plant cultivation and other drug-related activities.' The initiative has received support from multiple countries and will continue through 2029, when the Commission will review progress on international drug policy commitments. Read also: UN Adopts Morocco's Resolution on Sustainable Tourism and Poverty Eradication The resolution takes into account recent research by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), particularly findings from the 2022, 2023, and 2024 World Drug Reports on direct and indirect environmental impacts. Morocco's holistic anti-drug strategy has yielded remarkable results. Moroccan security services seized 1,777 tons of cannabis resin, 1,222 tons of cannabis herb, 6.48 tons of cocaine, 38 kg of heroin, and 8,053,904 psychotropic tablets between 2020 and 2024. 'Morocco has made cooperation a key lever in its drug trafficking strategy,' Farhane said at the session, which ran from March 10-14. 'This cooperation translates into intelligence sharing, operational cooperation, and expertise sharing with African countries, particularly Sahel countries, in border surveillance, strategic intelligence exchange, and law enforcement capacity building,' he added. The country recently adopted a new National Plan for Prevention and Management of Addictive Disorders 2024-2030, aiming to reduce addiction-related mortality and morbidity while ensuring universal access to prevention and quality treatment. 'We must, more than ever, redouble efforts and renew international consensus to present a united front against pressing threats through strengthened sub-regional, regional, and international cooperation,' Farhane asserted, noting the growing concerns about synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs serves as a UN decision-making body directing international action on drugs and crime, functioning under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and governing the UNODC. Its decisions and resolutions provide guidelines for member states and the UNODC. Tags: drug traffickingun resolutions
