Combating Illicit Tobacco Trade: A Transnational Challenge
At the ASIA Security Conference, Rodney Van Dooren from Philip Morris International emphasized the pressing need to address the global illicit tobacco trade. The issue severely impacts economies and public health by exploiting regulatory gaps. Coordinated international efforts, advanced technologies, and fostering partnerships are key strategies suggested to combat this menace.
- Country:
- India
At the recent ASIA Security Conference & Exhibition 2025 in New Delhi, Rodney Van Dooren, the head of Illicit Trade Prevention at Philip Morris International (PMI), underscored the urgent need for ongoing dialogues with source and transit countries to combat the illicit tobacco trade.
This transnational issue, which spans across numerous countries, exploits gaps within the regulatory frameworks, resulting in significant economic and health repercussions. India alone faces a loss of about $1.65 billion annually from illicit trade, which accounts for 25% of its domestic market. ASEAN countries face a collective annual tobacco tax revenue loss of $3–4 billion.
Van Dooren advocated for a multi-pronged approach, involving collaboration with ASEAN countries, government-to-government dialogues, and advanced tracking and tracing technologies. PMI has been actively working on protecting supply chain integrity and fostering partnerships globally to mitigate this issue.
(With inputs from agencies.)
- READ MORE ON:
- IllicitTrade
- Tobacco
- PMI
- ASEAN
- India
- Economy
- PublicHealth
- Regulation
- SupplyChain
- International
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