{"id":182540,"date":"2025-07-25T09:15:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T08:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/articles\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:22:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:22:57","slug":"illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/easyway-stop-smoking\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"The illegal cigarettes trade in the UK signals a deeper problem"},"content":{"rendered":"    <section  class=\"container container--large article-container\">\n            <div class=\"article \">\n            <div class=\"article__sidebar\">\n                <div class=\"sidebar-inner-section author\">\n                    <div class=\"author__avatar\">\n                                                                                                            <img 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                                                 <h6 class=\"author__title sidebar-content\">Global Chief Executive Officer<\/h6>\n                                    <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"sidebar-inner-section\">\n                        <span class=\"sidebar-sub-title\">Reviewed by<\/span>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/authors\/colleen-dwyer\/\" title=\"Colleen Dwyer Bio\">\n                            <p class=\"sidebar-content\">Colleen Dwyer<\/p>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                                <div class=\"sidebar-inner-section\">\n                    <span class=\"sidebar-sub-title\">Published<\/span>\n                                        <p class=\"sidebar-content\">25 July 2025<\/p>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"sidebar-inner-section\">\n                    <span class=\"sidebar-sub-title\">Last Updated<\/span>\n   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News<\/a>\n                                                                                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                                <div class=\"sidebar-inner-section\">\n                    <span class=\"sidebar-sub-title\">Share this article<\/span>\n                    <ul class=\"social-list\">\n            <li class=\"social-list__item\">\n            <a class=\"social-list__item-link\"\n               href=\"\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/easyway-stop-smoking\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/\"\n               onclick=\"window.open(this.href, 'share popup','left=20,top=20,width=500,height=360,toolbar=1,resizable=0'); return false;\"\n               rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/themes\/allen-carr\/public\/dist\/svgs\/social-facebook-fill.svg\" 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Unearth the complex web linking illicit businesses, organised crime, and people&#8217;s trust in the government. It&#8217;s time to take action.\n\n<\/p>\n                \n                                    <div class=\"article__readtime\">\n                        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path fill=\"none\" d=\"M0 0h20v20H0z\"\/><path d=\"M10 2c4.42 0 8 3.58 8 8s-3.58 8-8 8-8-3.58-8-8 3.58-8 8-8m0 14c3.31 0 6-2.69 6-6s-2.69-6-6-6-6 2.69-6 6 2.69 6 6 6m-.71-5.29c.07.05.14.1.23.15l-.02.02L14 13l-3.03-3.19L10 5l-.97 4.81h.01c0 .02-.01.05-.02.09S9 9.97 9 10c0 .28.1.52.29.71\"\/><\/svg>\n                        <span>2 minute read<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n                \n                                                            <div class=\"article__image\">\n                                                                                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n     src=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supasit-chantranon-ZCU7DLdC1fc-unsplash-min-880x587.jpg\"\n             srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supasit-chantranon-ZCU7DLdC1fc-unsplash-min-220x147.jpg 360w,\n             https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supasit-chantranon-ZCU7DLdC1fc-unsplash-min-440x293.jpg 768w,\n             https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supasit-chantranon-ZCU7DLdC1fc-unsplash-min-880x587.jpg 1440w,\n             https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/supasit-chantranon-ZCU7DLdC1fc-unsplash-min-1760x1173.jpg 2000w\"\n             alt=\"Unraveling the Surge in UK Black Market Cigarettes\"\n               \/>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                    \n                <div class=\"u-show-mobile article-social-bar\">\n                    <span class=\"sidebar-sub-title\">Share this article<\/span>\n                    <ul class=\"social-list\">\n            <li class=\"social-list__item\">\n            <a class=\"social-list__item-link\"\n               href=\"\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/easyway-stop-smoking\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/\"\n               onclick=\"window.open(this.href, 'share popup','left=20,top=20,width=500,height=360,toolbar=1,resizable=0'); return false;\"\n               rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/themes\/allen-carr\/public\/dist\/svgs\/social-facebook-fill.svg\" alt=\"Share to Facebook\"\/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n                <li class=\"social-list__item\">\n            <a class=\"social-list__item-link\"\n               href=\"\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/easyway-stop-smoking\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/&#038;text=The illegal cigarettes trade in the UK signals a deeper problem\"\n               onclick=\"window.open(this.href, 'share popup','left=20,top=20,width=500,height=360,toolbar=1,resizable=0'); return false;\"\n               rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/themes\/allen-carr\/public\/dist\/svgs\/social-twitter-fill.svg\" alt=\"Share to Twitter\"\/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n        \n        \n    <li class=\"social-list__item\">\n        <a class=\"social-list__item-link\"\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/en-us\/easyway-stop-smoking\/illegal-cigarette-trade-in-the-uk-signals-a-deeper-problem\/\"\n            data-behaviour=\"copy-link\" title=\"Click to copy\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allencarr.com\/wp-content\/themes\/allen-carr\/public\/dist\/svgs\/social-sharelink-fill.svg\" alt=\"Copy link to clipboard\"\/>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/li>\n<\/ul>                <\/div>\n\n                \n                \n                \n                \n<section class=\"formatted-text  formatted-text--padding-remove-top\">\n\t<div class=\"container container--large\">\n\t\t<p>This piece delves into the increasing issue of illegal cigarettes flooding the UK high streets. <\/p>\n<p>Investigation by the BBC reveals widespread sale of counterfeit and smuggled tobacco in mini marts and shops \u2013 an alarming trend seen across Britain. <\/p>\n<p>An illegal cigarettes are often termed as the &#8216;golden thread&#8217; underscoring serious organised crime. Connections to human trafficking and illegal immigration have been observed, indicating broader societal concerns linked to this illegal trade. <\/p>\n<p>While authorities are taking steps to curb this illicit business, it&#8217;s evident their efforts haven&#8217;t made a significant dent. <\/p>\n<p>An example of this is from Hull, where officials estimate that around \u00a320,000 worth of illegal cigarettes seized points to a crime that costs the country \u00a32.2 billion in lost revenue annually. Despite repeat raids and seizures, the sale of illegal cigarettes continues unabated.<\/p>\n<p>The cheap production of these counterfeit cigarettes, which often lack safety measures, combined with high excise taxes on legal tobacco in the UK, makes these cigarettes an attractive purchase for consumers. <\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s more, fines and penalties are often far less than potential profits, providing insufficient deterrent for criminals perpetuating this issue.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities, including professor Georgios Antonopoulos, criminologist at Northumbria University Newcastle, argue that the law enforcement machinery is chronically underfunded, and more resources are needed to turn the tide against the illegal trade in tobacco. Current anti-social behavior laws can briefly shut down shops, but evidence suggests criminals simply reopen nearby.<\/p>\n<p>Professor Emmeline Taylor points to the interconnected nature of the issue. In her view, the same crime networks also deal in firearms, drugs, people trafficking, and illegal immigration. At the same time, this crime wave has eroded public trust in the government and the police, with views of declining high streets seen as a symbol of a failing system.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"formatted-text  formatted-text--padding-remove-top\">\n\t<div class=\"container container--large\">\n\t\t<h2>Comment by Allen Carr&#8217;s Easyway<\/h2>\n<p>The rising trade in illegal cigarettes is a complex issue, intertwined with a wider spectrum of societal ills. <\/p>\n<p>At Allen Carr&#8217;s Easyway, we have always supported initiatives that aim to promote health, discourage smoking and help those caught in the trap. <\/p>\n<p>The human cost is tremendous, with illicit cigarettes linked to organised crime, detrimental health impacts not least due to their poor manufacture often lacking the safety measures that should be present. <\/p>\n<p>The good news is that there is a drug free and easy way to quit smoking which has no ongoing costs so you save as soon as you attend a quit smoking seminar or watch our quit smoking online video program. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"formatted-text \">\n\t<div class=\"container container--large\">\n\t\t<p><iframe\n    src=\"https:\/\/api.leadconnectorhq.com\/widget\/form\/mCSMtjhv4JRk8iPk7QSv\"\n    style=\"width:100%;height:100%;border:none;border-radius:9px\"\n    id=\"inline-mCSMtjhv4JRk8iPk7QSv\" \n    data-layout=\"{'id':'INLINE'}\"\n    data-trigger-type=\"alwaysShow\"\n    data-trigger-value=\"\"\n    data-activation-type=\"alwaysActivated\"\n    data-activation-value=\"\"\n    data-deactivation-type=\"neverDeactivate\"\n    data-deactivation-value=\"\"\n    data-form-name=\"Smoking article\"\n    data-height=\"952\"\n    data-layout-iframe-id=\"inline-mCSMtjhv4JRk8iPk7QSv\"\n    data-form-id=\"mCSMtjhv4JRk8iPk7QSv\"\n    title=\"Smoking article\"\n        ><br \/>\n<\/iframe><br \/>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/link.msgsndr.com\/js\/form_embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the surge in the illegal cigarette trade. Unearth the complex web linking illicit businesses, organised crime, and people&#8217;s trust in the government. It&#8217;s time to take action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24867,"featured_media":179784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[645,689,690,648,703,705,706],"tags":[],"addiction":[28],"country":[],"class_list":["post-182540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-smoking","category-smoking-health","category-smoking-in-the-news","category-vaping","category-vaping-advice","category-vaping-health","category-vaping-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The illegal cigarettes trade in the UK signals a deeper problem - Allen Carr&#039;s Easyway<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the surge in the illegal cigarette trade. 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