Black market hits tobacco sales

IRISH smokers purchased 4.3 billion cigarettes from companies in the tobacco industry last year, new figures show.

However, the growth of the illicit trade in cigarettes was the primary reason why there were 200 million less cigarettes sold by the industry in Ireland in 2010.

That is according to tobacco firm, PJ Carroll & Co, which maintained its 14.47% market share in the industry last year.