"Where economies aren't under-resourced in customs or law enforcement, they may otherwise be indifferent or actively neglect
illicit practices in order to continue reaping the economic benefits of being a global financial centre (like the UK) or a regional logistics hub (like Singapore, Dubai and Panama) or one of the world's factories (like China and Vietnam) or a main source of narcotics (like Colombia).
'
Illicit' cigarettes were defined in the report as those whose applicable taxes were not paid, including counterfeit, contraband and non-domestic with unspecified market variant cigarettes as well domestic
illicit cigarettes or loose tobacco.
Illicit trade of cigarettes in the GCC has tripled in the first half of 2018 rising to 5.3 per cent of total sales compared to last year, equivalent to approximately $210 million in lost taxes, a report said.
Summary: WTO should take a lead in combating the problem, speakers at Global
Illicit Trade summit said
Ranked 53rd out of 84 countries, by the Global
Illicit Trade Environment Index which measures the enabling environment for
illicit trade that economies create through both action and inaction, Tunisia would benefit from sharpening its fight against the practices of generalized corruption, in particular at the level of customs, the authorities and the judiciary to combat this scourge.
Reflecting the UAE's zero-tolerance for
illicit trade, government bodies in the UAE seize fake goods worth billions of dirhams every year in their campaigns against
illicit trade.
Summary: At Lebanon's first national conference to combat
illicit trade Wednesday, experts agreed that a multidisciplinary approach between private and public bodies is needed to combat the phenomenon, described as a "destructive crime" that spares none of the country's sectors.
Titled '
Illicit Financial Flows to and from Developing Countries: 2005- 2014', the report released on Monday is the first global study to place equal emphasis on
illicit outflows and inflows.
)- The United Nations Human Rights Council Thursday adopted a resolution on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of
illicit origin to countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights ; Tunisia and Egypt actively contributed to the drafting of this African Group-sponsored resolution.
(A) major
illicit drug producing and major drug-transit countries;
United Kingdom (UK)-based Oxford Economics is hopeful for a marked decline in
illicit cigarette trade this year with the full year implementation of the tax stamp system of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
This year, WHO calls for international collaboration to stop the
illicit trade of tobacco products (2).
PMPKL in the light of International Tax and Investment Center and Oxford Economics Report also illustrated in its presentation that the reducing profitability of the legal industry was due to lack of enforcement of the law resulting in the increase in the
illicit market.
