In Australia, the black market for cigarettes has surged, costing the country billions in revenue. Experts attribute this rise to the high price of legal cigarettes. Dr. James Martin, a criminologist from Deakin University, and Sky News host Caleb Bond noted that as the cost of legal smoking rises, organized crime groups are growing with illegal alternatives. In Sydney, authorities have seized over 4,000 liters of a dangerous substance linked to sexual assaults and overdoses. Additionally, organized crime groups are increasingly turning to illegal tobacco and vape imports, cryptocurrency, and luxury cars as lucrative ventures. The NSW Crime Commission is actively working to combat these illegal activities. Recently, officers seized 285,000 cigarettes, 2,000 vapes, 100kg of loose-leaf tobacco, and 100 nicotine pouches.
Officers seized 285,000 cigarettes, 2000 vapes, 100kg of loose-leaf tobacco and 100 nicotine pouches. #9News https://t.co/Kftn8F5zNv
Illegal tobacco and vape imports, cryptocurrency and luxury cars are all incredibly lucrative for Sydney’s underworld – the NSW Crime Commission is looking to change that. MORE 👉 https://t.co/YtsrvJKX4f https://t.co/lmFHmq3Tuu
Deakin University Criminologist Doctor James Martin says as the cost of legal smoking rises, organised crime groups continue to grow with illegal alternatives. https://t.co/nTMEAOTw55
Sky News host Caleb Bond says as the tobacco excise and tax climbs, people are finding other ways to consume nicotine which has led to massive outbreaks of gang crime. https://t.co/x4XKz11bQL
It's a dangerous drug spilling onto our streets that's increasingly being linked to sexual assaults and overdoses. Police are fighting back, seizing more than 4,000L of the substance across Sydney. @WesternWilson9 #9News READ MORE: https://t.co/4LKRvr4XLx https://t.co/ikO0mLqGEU
The black market for cigarettes has exploded in plain sight, costing Australia billions in revenue. Some experts say the high price of cigarettes is to blame. https://t.co/j2SDMjp9ry
Police nab bhang worth Sh9million in a vehicle in Taita Taveta with fake number plates on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway during crackdown https://t.co/S0qPuYU1MG