European Anti Fraud Office: Illegal New Tobacco Trade Intensifies, Aiming To Recover 150 Million Euros in Tax Revenue By 2023

European Anti Fraud Office: Illegal new tobacco trade intensifies, aiming to recover 150 million euros in tax revenue by 2023

European Anti Fraud Office: Illegal new tobacco trade intensifies, aiming to recover 150 million euros in tax revenue by 2023

The European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) emphasizes that the illegal trade of new tobacco products poses a significant threat to public health and taxation. The agency announced that it seized a batch of illegal tobacco in 2023, recovering a loss of 150 million euros for the EU.

On October 10th, the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) collaborated with the Irish tax and customs department to hold the annual OLAF Tobacco Conference in Dublin, Ireland from October 8th to 10th.

The organization emphasized that the goal of this conference is to establish stronger, more stable, and better coordinated international efforts to combat illegal tobacco trade, thereby protecting public health and disrupting illegal networks involved in smuggling activities.

More than 90 key stakeholders, including representatives from customs and national police agencies of EU member states and third countries, the World Customs Organization, Europol, and industry representatives, participated in this meeting.

OLAF presented an overview of the development of hookah and new tobacco products at the meeting, stating that illegal tobacco trade poses a significant threat to public health, causes significant tax losses for the EU and its member states, and fuels the activities of organized crime networks. In 2023, OLAF seized 616 million illegal cigarettes, 140 tons of raw tobacco, and 6 tons of hookah tobacco in international operations, recovering approximately 150 million euros in revenue losses for the European Union.

It is reported that the European Anti Fraud Office is an institution authorized by the European Union (EU) to protect the financial interests of the EU. This institution was established on April 28, 1999. Its tasks include three aspects: combating fraudulent activities that affect the EU budget; Investigating corrupt practices among staff members of EU institutions; And formulate anti fraud laws and policies.