Illegal cigarettes occupy about 11% of Kazakhstan market, according to the 2024 research.
The profits from illegal tobacco fund terrorism and organized crime worldwide, illicit cigarettes are traded by the same criminal organizations who traffic people, drugs and weapons. Buying and selling illegal tobacco is not a victimless crime – it can ruin local businesses and brings crime into our communities.
The black market in tobacco not only takes business away from companies like ours – it deprives governments of tax revenue. The higher the level of illegal trade in the country, the less money the budget receives. This is why the fight against the shadow market is one of the challenges facing both international tobacco companies and governments of countries around the world.
For the smokers who think they are getting a good deal when they buy cheap illegal cigarettes, cheap comes at a price. There are no guarantees about the quality standards of these cigarettes, which are typically manufactured in unhygienic, unregulated underground factories.
We take action to tackle the illegal trade, including here in Kazakhstan. We work closely with law enforcement and government agencies, sharing information and expertise. We inform retail and wholesale outlets of the possible penalties for dealing in illegal cigarettes. And we carry out public information campaigns to discourage smokers from buying from the black market.