Loss of Government Revenue: Illegal tobacco sales deprive governments of substantial tax revenue, leading to budget shortfalls and reduced funding for essential public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.Undermining Legal Businesses: The presence of illegal tobacco undermines legitimate businesses within the tobacco industry, creating unfair competition and disrupting market dynamics. This can result in job losses and economic instability within affected communities.Public Health Risks: Illicit tobacco products often evade quality control regulations and may contain higher levels of harmful substances such as tar and nicotine. This poses significant health risks to consumers, including increased rates of smoking-related illnesses and deaths.Encouraging Youth Smoking: The availability of cheap and unregulated tobacco products on the black market can make smoking more accessible and appealing to young people. This perpetuates the cycle of addiction and contributes to long-term public health challenges.Organized Crime Links: The illegal tobacco trade is frequently linked to organized crime networks, including drug cartels and terrorist organizations. Profits generated from illicit tobacco sales may fund other criminal activities, exacerbating security concerns and undermining the rule of law.Tax Evasion and Money Laundering: Illicit tobacco trade facilitates tax evasion and money laundering schemes, allowing criminal organizations to launder illicit proceeds through legitimate financial channels. This undermines the integrity of financial systems and poses challenges for law enforcement agencies.Cross-Border Challenges: The illegal tobacco trade often operates across international borders, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to effectively combat. This necessitates enhanced cooperation and coordination between nations to address the transnational nature of the problem.In this episode, we take a trip south of the border to see how the Cartels are making their move into this market and why it matters to you.(commercial at 7:43)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:From drug trafficking to tobacco: Cigarettes become a new branch of business for Mexican cartels | International | EL PAÍS English (elpais.com)