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‘People cannot afford to buy legal stuff and are inevitably turning to the black market to find cheaper alternatives. The problem is they may find cheaper alternatives, but they may also get dangerous products for their own health,’ says Stefano Betti, vice president of the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade.
Pakistan’s underlying economic context incentivises illicit trade. It’s not much different in South Africa.
Global organisations working to combat illicit trade say the scourge is out of control in South Africa, and unless the country makes an extra effort it will remain on Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylist.
An increasing number of South African smokers choose to buy cheaper illegal cigarettes as their purchasing power is on the decline due to ever-rising tax levies on legitimate products, contributing to high prices, according to Brig-Gen Juan Carlos Buitrago of the national police of Colombia.
Provisions in the tobacco control bill are likely to increase illicit trade