How illicit tobacco quietly grew to a quarter of all cigarettes sold here

Illicit tobacco is quietly taking hold across New Zealand.

A Retail NZ report warns the country could soon face the same violent black-market spiral seen in Australia.

It has found more than a quarter of smokers are using illicit tobacco - most sourced from China and the Middle East.

Some cartons are being sold for as little as 15 dollars - with supply controlled by organised crime groups.

So what's driving this trade, and how serious is the threat?

Today on The Front Page, CEO Carolyn Young is with us to talk about the report's findings and what action we need to take now.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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