illicit-trade-wco-2013

When turning to figures for raw tobacco, a large
increase in the number of seizures and quantities
seized can be evidenced (159 cases with a total
quantity of 2,258,964 kg in 2013). When analysing the
data more in depth, it becomes clear that this
exponential increase is due notably to five very large
seizures made by Poland, Czech Republic, Argentina,
the UK and South Africa. Of these five large seizures
the most significant one was made by the UK, which
amounted to 1,200,000 kg of raw tobacco.
When observing the reported figures of smoking
tobacco, there was a significant increase from
282,629 kg in 2012 to 1,433,780 kg in 2013, in spite
of the fact that the number of reported seizures
decreased immensely from 1,628 in 2012 to 780 in
2013. When reviewing the reported seizures
individually, this fact can be attributed to eight very
large seizures reported in 2013 which accounted for
1,141,430 out of the total of 1,433,780 kg, or about 80
per cent. Most of these large seizures have been
reported as inland and land boundary seizures.
Seizure of water pipe tobacco
Photo courtesy of UAE Customs
Finally, for water pipe tobacco a significant increase
in the number of seizures can be observed but it is not
evident in the total quantities seized; this is due to the
fact that many seizures of 1 kg or less have been
reported, which was not the case in 2012.
Chart 1. Other tobacco products:
number of seizures
Chart 2. Other tobacco products:
quantity (kg)
1,628
2012 2013
2,258,964
2012 2013
1,433,780
780
505
343
Smoking
Chewingtobacco
Water pipe tobacco
182
44 33 159
Raw tobacco
6
Hand rolling
and pipe tobacco
16
Cut filler
5
4
Raw tobacco
83,827
282,629
68,593
Smoking tobacco
Water pipe tobacco
75,056
7,997
37,844
Chewing
tobacco
Hand rolling
and pipe tobacco
1,321
1,196
Cut filler
9,517
56
78