Anti-illicit trade

Defining illicit trade

Illicit trade is the production, import, export, purchase, sale or possession of goods failing to comply with legislation.

These are the three terms commonly used to categorize illicit trade activities:

1. Contraband – genuine products smuggled from abroad
   Genuine products diverted from the legitimate supply chain and sold in a country different than the intended market of retail sale and without domestic duty paid in that country.

2. Counterfeit – fake products appearing to be a genuine brand
   Products protected by intellectual property rights which are manufactured without authorization from the rights owners and with the intent to copy the genuine brand to deceive the consumer, also sold without duties being paid.

3. Illicit whites – legitimately manufactured brands intentionally sold on the illicit market
   Brands manufactured legitimately in one country but smuggled into another country to provide consumers with cheap brands, also without duties being paid.