From: Times Live
Global‚ regional and local law enforcement‚ revenue and customs agencies from 19 countries are meeting in Cape Town at the annual Anti-Illicit Trade Conference to collaborate on efforts to tackle the illicit tobacco trade in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa has the highest illicit tobacco incidence in the region and is listed amongst the top five illicit markets globally.
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Speaking at the AIT conference‚ Francois van der Merwe‚ CEO of the Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa‚ said: “What we’ve heard at today’s conference is the need for and willingness of all stakeholders‚ including law enforcement‚ revenue services and customs agencies‚ along with industry‚ to work together to address a challenge that not only eats into country revenues‚ but which also undermines the health agenda and the social fabric of our societies.
