From: LSM.LV Public Broadcasting of Latvia
Trade in contraband goods, primarily contraband cigarettes, is one of the biggest sources of security risk to Latvia and the European Union, the Ministry of Finance announced in a release Tuesday.
Each year the illegal trade in contraband tobacco goods cause member states around 11 billion euros in losses. Worse still, the profits gained in the illegal trade are often used to finance terrorism, military groups and activities that pose clear threats to EU states and their democratic civic values in general.
The release notes that in 2014 Latvia’s retail markets handled altogether 1.86 billion cigarettes, collecting into state revenues almost 161 million euros (166.2 million including all additional tobacco products).
