Cigarette Trade News Today

Estimates annual revenue losses of Rs310b, calls for govt strategy to combat illicit sales

Prohibition on legal tobacco sales was a boon for illicit trade. Many have kept their customers, judging by the complaints of legal retailers.

Last year, as President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an unprecedented lockdown to combat Covid-19, a ban prohibiting the sale of tobacco and alcohol products was enforced – much to the chagrin of many South Africans. Not only did this open the stage to the illegal cigarette trade, but it also resulted in billions of lost tax revenue. Tax Justice SA (TJSA) describes the illicit tobacco trade as ‘the biggest and most brazen black market in the world’. The organisation estimates that ‘two in ...