Extensive sale of illegal cigarettes by gangs

A snapshot test purchasing operation by two former police chiefs found illicit cigarettes for sale in every one of the 27 areas, across 16 counties, they visited.

The investigators reported that between 70%-80% of the 120 separate purchases they made were of a brand of illegal cigarettes called “illicit whites” — which they said is controlled by organised criminals.

Their report shows the illicit trade is dominated by criminal gangs, dissident republicans, Traveller gangs, and Eastern European outfits.