The soaring cost of cigarettes in Australia is presenting lucrative opportunities for organised crime groups, who are turning to illicit tobacco as a 'low risk and high reward' trade.
Australia's soaring cost of cigarettes is presenting lucrative opportunities for international organised crime groups who are turning to illicit tobacco as a "low risk and high reward" trade.Law enforcement organisations say crime cartels are using illegal tobacco as a platform for further illicit activities
"As the cost of legal tobacco products continues to rise through frequent increases in excise, serious and organised crime groups are taking advantage of the opportunity to make more illicit profits," ACIC CEO Mike Phelan told the ABC. Since 2016, nicotine consumption has been monitored by the ACIC as part of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, with data suggesting overall consumption has remained relatively stable in Australia despite growing taxation on legal products.
Police ministers from across Australia have agreed to consider "enhanced efforts" to tackle illicit tobacco.
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