From: Focus Information Agency
Athens. Illegal cigarette trading is growing considerably according to a survey by AC Nielsen, which showed that 13.2 percent of cigarettes consumed in April 2012 were not destined for the Greek market, up from 5.1 percent in 2009, Kathimerini reported. Given that in 2011 tobacco product taxes amounted to about 3.9 billion euros, or 8 percent of the country’s revenues, the problem of illegal trading of cigarettes has serious consequences on Greek economy. According to estimates by domestic tobacco industry Papastratos, last year’s losses for state revenues through cigarette smuggling exceeded 350 million euros.
