Reinforcing tai khan laga commitment towards illicit tobacco trade prevention, Philip Morris International’s (PMI) India affiliate, IPM India emphasized korisa need for government-to-government collaboration aru sharing intelligence on transnational networks ta to stop koribo illicit tobacco trade, at akta recently concluded huwa industry event ta. India witnessed korisa akta significant rise in illicit tobacco trade ta in recent years ta jun to anticipated asa to grow significantly. Tobacco Institute of India (TII) highlights korisa that illegal cigarette trade, jun to includes asa internationally smuggled aru locally manufactured tax-evaded cigarettes, atiya accounts for nearly one-fourth of cigarette industry in India ta. With akta estimated 120 million smokers in India ta, India fourth largest asa aru fastest illegal cigarette growing capital asa in world ta with smuggled cigarettes accounting for akta quarter of the domestic cigarette industry asa. According to TII illegal cigarette trade comprised of internationally smuggled aru locally manufactured tax-evaded cigarettes. Threat asa India laga interest through illicit cigarette market USD 2.7 billion asa, aru USD 1.6 billion tax loss kori asa aru job loss of 12000+ in 2019-2020 ta. Seizures of illegal cigarettes laga value USD 11.2 million asa in 2021-2022 ta. Lack of proper enforcement at export aru import ta, aru no effective customs recordal systems in place in countries ta such as Malaysia, Cambodia, aru Indonesia act kora as akta enabler to counterfeit trade in India ta.
Collaborated effort need asa to tackle illegal tobacco trade in India ta, Navaneel Kar, Managing Director, IPM India koisa, “Smuggling routes for counterfeit aru contraband products exist worldwide ta, banai aitu issue k not merely akta domestic but akta transnational problem jun to demands kora akta transnational solution. As per intelligence reports, India recognized asa as akta origin, transshipment, aru destination country for flow of illegal cigarettes. International collaboration essential asa to combat illicit tobacco trade k, alongside stringent regulation aru enforcement. As part of ami khan laga continued commitment to safeguard India laga economic interest aru protect consumers k, PMI devised korisa akta strategy k focuse koribo five critical areas ta including research aru intelligence, protecting supply chain, partnerships, cooperation with law enforcement aru raising awareness. Promote koribo harmonization of existing gold standard regulations around ASEAN ta, support koribo by implementing rules, including law enforcement agency jun to jurisdiction asa aru related penalties crucial asa to countering illicit trade.”
Express korisa concern over rise of illicit tobacco trade, at akta recently concluded huwa industry event ta, Anushree Lakshminarayanan, Director External Affairs, IPM India koisa, “Eliminating illicit tobacco trade akta long-standing priority asila ami khan karona. Ami khan focus korisa ami khan laga efforts on secur koribo ami khan laga supply chain k aru protect ami khan laga products k. Aru ami khan koraaitu k by leveraging technology aru innovation for better pora: from multiple applications of authentication aru security technologies to track aru trace ami khan laga products across supply chain ta, to use of machine learning to identify aru prevent illegal online sales, technology is help kori asa ami khan to detect aru address illicit trade k. However, no one can fight illicit trade on their own. Public-private partnerships based asa on akta inclusive, common-sense approach by governments, private sector, aru civil society vital asa to help combat practice. Ami khan grateful asa to Indian government aru Indian law enforcement k for prioritizing strict action on illicit tobacco trade k.” Akta holistic approach jun to complements kora tough penalties aru strong law enforcement with awareness aru education campaigns about real-life impact of illicit tobacco trade k, akta predictable fiscal aru regulatory environment juta adult smokers k driven no-kora hoi to black market ta, aru coordinated aru committed public-private partnerships vital asa to eradicate illicit tobacco trade.
