# Illegal tobacco is becoming harder to spot, with some fakes bearing Australian health warnings

https://mins.news/en/item/100569

- The Guardian, 2026-10-14 23:32 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/black-market-tobacco-fakes-australian-health-warning

> Counterfeit cigarettes made by criminal groups in south-east Asia are becoming more sophisticated, with factories in Cambodia producing fake versions of common brands at industrial scale. Some packaging carries Australian health warnings. Customs minister Julian Hill is urging parliament to pass tougher anti-trafficking laws, while New South Wales authorities have seized illicit tobacco products and closed retailers.

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