Recently, the Belgian government canceled the 11th illegal tobacco production dens, resulting in a loss of 6.2 million euros in tax revenue to China. In 2024, nearly 205 million tonnes of tobacco were seized in Belgium, which the Finance Ministry said equated to about 96 million euros in lost tax revenue.
According to The Brussels Times, the Belgian Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday (23rd) that the Belgian government has canceled the 11th illegal tobacco production dens this year. This marks a new high number of unlawful manufacturers discovered in a year.
Florence Angelici, a spokeswoman for the Finance Ministry, said: “We know what we’ve got.”
Angelich, however, confirmed that the demand for cheap illicit tobacco has generally risen due to higher prices for tobacco products. (The illicit tobacco business would involve the production or sale of counterfeit tobacco products, as well as the sale of untaxed tobacco.)
The latest demolition took place at a warehouse in East Flanders that houses cigarette cutting, production, and packaging lines. Belgian customs and local police seized about 11 tons of cigarettes and 5.6 million sticks of Rothmans and Marlboro tobacco, resulting in a tax loss of 6.2 million euros in China.
Belgium consumed about 13% of the EU’s illegal tobacco last year, according to a report commissioned by Philip Morris International.
Angelich noted that much of the tobacco produced in China is not sold in China, but smuggled in countries like Britain and France where demand is greater. Proximity to a thriving illicit cigarette market, as well as a national port and a large road network, makes it “very attractive” for those involved in production and smuggling.
Angelic said Belgium seized nearly 205 million tobacco in 2024. Which the finance ministry said equated to about 96 million euros in lost tax revenue.
