
“In the first five months of this year alone, tobacco products were seized, equating to a tax revenue loss of 3.5 million euros, highlighting the scale of the issue affecting not only the industry but all Portuguese taxpayers,” stated a press release.
This information is part of a real-time counter by Imperial Brands, which displays the quantities of tobacco products seized by authorities, utilizing data from GNR and the Tax Authority.
Since the beginning of the year, 1.2 million cigarettes, 8.2 tons of tobacco leaf, the equivalent of 20,000 vaping electronic cigarettes, and 4.4 tons of chewing tobacco have been withdrawn from the market.
According to company estimates, the annual tax revenue loss due to the illicit trade of tobacco products is approximately 70 million euros.
These values represent about 4% of the total tobacco products marketed in Portugal.
“Tobacco smuggling is not a national exclusivity, but combating it should be a priority due to its broad negative impact affecting manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, consumers, and taxpayers,” indicated Miguel Simões, market director of Imperial Brands Portugal, in the same statement.
Imperial Brands is one of the largest tobacco companies, present in 120 markets, including Portugal, and employs over 25,000 people.