All news on the topic: Tobacco

Andy Burnham has entered a diplomatic row with Cuba as "smoke-free Britain" plans put cigar trade at risk.

More than 33 million illicit cigarettes have been confiscated from retail outlets across the UK over the past year, Trading Standards has revealed.

The illicit trade costs the Treasury an estimated £2.2 billion annually in lost tax revenue The black market fags are sold at what are called "pocket money" prices, typically £5 to £7 for a pack of 20, compared to the average legal price of around £16.45. Unregulated products often contain much higher levels of toxins like tar and nicotine than permitted by UK standards.

A gang who evaded paying more than £1m worth of excise duty on tobacco were found in possession of hundreds and thousands of cigarettes housed in residential properties and storage units in Cardiff.