From: The Manila Times
by MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO, REPORTER
Singapore: Consumption of illicit or untaxed cigarettes in the country almost tripled last year, making the Philippines one of the top illicit cigarette markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a study said.
Consumption of illicit cigarettes in the country surged 198 percent in 2013 from a year earlier, findings of the newly released “Asia-14 Illicit Tobacco Indicator 2013” study showed.
“Domestic illicit cigarettes are produced locally and sold without payment of the required taxes, while non-domestic cigarettes are smuggled contraband or counterfeit originating in another country,” the study explained.
According to the study, the Philippines now accounts for 34.5 percent of all illicit cigarette consumption in the region, second only to Vietnam with 39 percent.
