Tobacco tax grab could spark rise in people buying illicit cigarettes'

SEIZURES of illegal cigarettes could hit a record high this year, fuelling fears of a booming tobacco black market.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES

Counterfeit cigarettes discovered in a raid

Border Force seized 628 million illicit smokes in the first half of 2025, an increase of 30% compared with the same period in 2024 and 78% up on 2023.

This has led to fears more than a billion could be confiscated this year, taking the total past the 927m seized in 2024. Critics warn Chancellor Rachel Reeves could push more people into buying the counterfeits by hiking taxes.