EU loses fight against the tobacco mafia
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The EU has more and more illegal cigarettes. The European Court of Auditors says this. Almost every 10th cigarette is not real. Bad people build factories right in the EU. They want to be close to the buyers.
Almost every EU land has such factories. Many factories are in Poland, Belgium and Germany. Germany recently had up to 40 illegal factories. Workers found 15 tons of tobacco in Düsseldorf. Austria also finds many banned cigarettes.
EU lands do not work together well. Information is missing or comes too late. Punishments are different in every land. Criminals use this for themselves. The Court of Auditors demands strict rules now. The EU Commission must lead the fight better.
Illegal cigarettes harm the health a lot. They are often cheap. This is very dangerous for young people. Also, the state misses much money. Every year 13 billion euros in taxes are lost. The mafia uses the money for other crimes.
Almost every EU land has such factories. Many factories are in Poland, Belgium and Germany. Germany recently had up to 40 illegal factories. Workers found 15 tons of tobacco in Düsseldorf. Austria also finds many banned cigarettes.
EU lands do not work together well. Information is missing or comes too late. Punishments are different in every land. Criminals use this for themselves. The Court of Auditors demands strict rules now. The EU Commission must lead the fight better.
Illegal cigarettes harm the health a lot. They are often cheap. This is very dangerous for young people. Also, the state misses much money. Every year 13 billion euros in taxes are lost. The mafia uses the money for other crimes.
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Definitions
- European Court of Auditors
- This office checks if the European Union spends its money right.
- EU Commission
- This is the government of the European Union. It makes new laws.
- Tax loss
- This is money the state misses because people do not pay taxes.
People
- Petri Sarvamaa
- He is a member of the European Court of Auditors and makes the report about tobacco.
Locations
- Belgium
- A land in Europe and neighbor of Germany.
- Austria
- A land in the south of Germany.
- Poland
- A neighbor land in the east of Germany.
Sources
The Guardian
Organised crime driving illicit cigarette factory boom ‘in almost every EU state’
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