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13A.5 Estimates of illicit cigarette trade in Australia
Foreword

Relevant news and research: Estimates of illicit cigarette trade in Australia

Watts, C., Egger, S., McGill, B., Rose, S., Brooks, A., Dessaix, A. and Freeman, B. (2026). Illicit tobacco use by Australian young adults in 2026. Generation Vape. Available from: https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-prevention/smoking/generation-vape/


Wang, Z., Zheng, Q., Thai, P. K., Gartner, C., O'Brien, J. W., Bade, R., Verhagen, R., Hall, W., Stjepanovic, D., Simpson, B. S., Keller, E. L., Thomas, K. V., Mueller, J. F. and Tscharke, B. (2026). National Wastewater Surveillance of Illicit Tobacco and Vaping Use Trends in Australia. JAMA Netw Open, 2, e2557319. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41661592


Illicit Tobacco & E-cigarette Commissioner (2025). Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Report 2024-25: A national picture of the illicit market. . Available from: https://www.itec.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-12/ITEC_Commissioner-Report_2024-25.pdf


Jones, D., Best, C. and Moodie, C. (2025). No Change in Illicit Tobacco Use Following the Introduction of Standardised Packaging? A Longitudinal Online Survey in the United Kingdom. Tob Use Insights, 1179173X251405166. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41427110


Basford Canales, S. (2025). Illegal tobacco burns $3.3bn hole in Australia’s tax revenue, crime agency says. The Guardian. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/06/tobacco-burns-33bn-hole-in-australias-tax-revenue-agency-says


Cho, A., Scollo, M., Lim, C., Puljevic, C. and Gartner, C. (2025). Trends and correlates of current use of illicitly traded tobacco in Australia: Evidence from a decade of national surveys. Addiction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41215749


Australian Council on Smoking & Health (2025). Cheap, Addictive, and Everywhere — Outdated WA Tobacco Laws Failing to Stop the Illegal Trade. . Available from: https://acosh.org/cheap-addictive-and-everywhere-outdated-wa-tobacco-laws-failing-to-stop-the-illegal-trade/


Vedelago, C. (2025). Tobacco war kingpin making $1 million a month in 'extortion tax'. The Age. Available from: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/tobacco-war-kingpin-making-1-million-a-month-in-extortion-tax-20241230-p5l152.html


Earlier news and research

For news items and research on this topic earlier than 2025, click here.

Intro
Chapter 2