Why is confronting illicit trade key to delivering a smoke-free future?
The world has an unprecedented opportunity to eradicate smoking. Science and technology have enabled the development of better alternatives, moving a smoke-free future to within our grasp. It’s paramount to protect consumers from fakes and prevent the smuggling and counterfeiting of our products.
To deliver a smoke-free future, we must ensure that there are no illegal actors sustaining a black market for cigarettes and other tobacco products. Cigarettes, for instance, remain one of the most common illegally traded goods in the world, with as much as 15 percent of total cigarette sales (excl. China and the U.S.) sourced from the black market.
Securing our supply chain
For PMI, eliminating the illicit tobacco trade has been a long-standing priority. We focus our efforts on securing our supply chain and protecting our products. And we do it by leveraging technology and innovation for the better: From multiple applications of authentication and security technologies to track and trace our products across the supply chain, to the use of machine learning to identify and prevent illegal online sales, technology is helping us detect and address illicit trade.
But if we truly want to have an impact on deterring illicit tobacco flows, and protect consumers and our brands from smugglers and counterfeiters, our internal efforts need to be coupled with strong cross-sectoral collaboration and partnerships.
A holistic approach for a successful collaboration
No one can fight illicit trade on their own. Public-private partnerships based on an inclusive, commonsense approach by governments, the private sector, and civil society are vital to helping combat the practice.
In today’s hyper-connected world—with growing concerns around global security, the proliferation of criminal organizations, and the surge of new digital tools—we believe that it’s more important than ever to sustain our collective
efforts and promote an inclusive dialogue around solutions to tackle this global issue.
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Fighting illicit trade: How can we tackle this global problem?
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Latest articles
Europe can’t afford to ignore the surge in illicit trade
Illicit cigarette consumption in the EU rose by 10.8% in 2024, reaching 38.9 billion cigarettes—nearly one in every ten smoked. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a warning sign of a system under strain and a symptom of broader policy failure across Europe.
3 min readread more
Illicit trade in Europe
3 min readPMI is committed to encouraging an open dialogue about the most effective ways to combat illicit trade in tobacco products in Europe.
Fighting illicit trade can help enable equal access to innovation
3 min readCollaborative action to end the illegal trade in tobacco and nicotine products is key to improving public health for all.
Fighting illicit trade: How can we tackle this global problem?
7 min readWhat is illicit trade? How does it impact society? How can we confront it? Why would doing this help deliver a smoke-free future, faster? On this page, we’ll answer these questions and highlight the strategies we are implementing.
Collaboration remains the key to success in the fight against illicit trade
6 min readPublic-private coalitions will continue to play a critical role in the fight against the flow of illicit goods.
Preventing illicit trade: PMI’s efforts, progress in 2021, and vision for the future
Eliminating illicit trade is a long-standing priority for PMI. In the tobacco sector, an estimated one in every 10 cigarettes smoked worldwide is illicit. This is causing governments to lose up to USD 50 billion in tax revenue each year.
The crucial role played by technology and continued collaboration
6 min readPMI is implementing world-class measures to secure its supply chain
PMI wins U.S. Department of Homeland Security award
5 min readPhilip Morris International’s efforts to combat fraudsters in the wake of COVID-19 have also yielded three coveted accolades at the 2020 MarCom Awards.
Eliminating illicit trade, a long standing priority
Our priority is to fight illicit trade, secure our products from criminals, and protect our consumers.
Our progress in the fight against illicit trade
PMI work to develop workable and collaborative solutions to put an end to illegal tobacco trade.
Lasting effects: How COVID-19 is changing illicit trade
5 min readIllicit trade is adapting and thriving during the pandemic. A recent PMI-commissioned paper by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) sheds light on the long-term consequences that the current crisis will have on this global scourge.
Combatting the “global scourge” of illicit trade: Philip Morris International’s third funding round of PMI IMPACT
The selection of new grantees concludes the three funding rounds announced by PMI in May 2016. The implementation of these latest projects is expected to be completed by 2026.
Countering illegal trade needs a global response
3 min readPMI IMPACT is bringing together public and private sector representatives from all over the world to fight illegal trade and related crimes.
Illicit whites: What are they, and how big is the problem?
3 min readPMI is working with public and private organizations to prevent this global illegal trade in cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Illicit trade numbers in Europe tell us change is needed
3 minThe latest KPMG report in Europe paints a troubling picture: More than 52 billion illicit cigarettes were consumed in the continent in 2023, the highest number since 2019.
PMI IMPACT: We need a network to fight a network
Criminals operating in the illicit trade space are working in networks – not limited by laws or borders. They should be fought in the same way, creating connections across nations and between international law enforcement.
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