# Organised crime drives illicit cigarette factory boom in ‘almost every EU state’

https://mins.news/en/item/49949

- The Guardian, 2026-09-08 15:00 UTC
- Economy
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/08/organised-crime-illicit-cigarette-factory-boom-eu

> The European Court of Auditors says illicit tobacco trade has grown sharply, with about one in 10 cigarettes illegally made or smuggled and an estimated €13bn in annual lost tax revenue. Crime groups are moving production inside the EU, where illegal factories have been found in almost every member state. Uneven enforcement and weak information-sharing leave gaps they exploit.