Australia was long regarded as a pioneer in the fight against smoking — with high tobacco taxes, standard packaging and strict laws, the smoking rate dropped drastically. But now a massive black market for cigarettes is flourishing, which not only allows the state to miss out on billions in tax revenue, but also promotes violence and organized crime. Experts stress that the illegal trade is fuelled by the high price of legal cigarettes, while political opponents criticize the government for a failed strategy.
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