Updated: Added link to Strategy document
HMRC and Border Force published a comprehensive strategy for tackling tobacco smuggling in 2011 to address the source, supply and demand for illicit tobacco products in the UK.
The strategy has been boosted by a £25 million re-investment from the Government’s 2010 Spending Review which is aimed at tackling organised crime, tax evasion and avoidance.
The latest estimates for 2012 to 2013 are that the UK illicit cigarette market is 9%, and 36% for hand-rolling tobacco.
HMRC estimates the size of the illicit market using tax gap data which are reported annually, each Autumn.