A recent study commissioned by the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) has revealed that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Zamboanga Peninsula account for the highest rates of illicit cigarette consumption in the Philippines. According to the Kantar Open Pack Study conducted between November 2025 and February 2026, illicit cigarettes made up 85.6% of consumption in BARMM and 81% in Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula). The study also identified Lanao del Sur as having the highest provincial rate at 93.5%, followed by Zamboanga Sibugay at 87.5% and Zamboanga del Sur at 81.4%. Maguindanao recorded an incidence rate of 77%, while Region X posted 54.8%. Nationally, the incidence of illicit cigarettes decreased to 16.3% from 17.6% in the previous survey, marking the first decline in five years. However, this national trend contrasts sharply with the persistent high rates in Mindanao regions. The PTI president, Bayen Elero-Tinga, attributed the continued illicit trade to the widening price gap between legal cigarettes and untaxed contraband, which criminal networks exploit as tax increases make legitimate products more expensive. She emphasized that while progress has been made, the problem remains significant and requires strengthened enforcement, particularly in high-incidence areas. The study also noted that the EU-ASEAN Business Council estimated illicit cigarettes accounted for 25.3% of total consumption in the Philippines in 2025. These findings highlight the regional disparities in the illicit cigarette trade, with Mindanao regions, particularly BARMM and Zamboanga, facing the most severe challenges. The PTI has called for continued efforts to combat the illicit tobacco trade, stressing that the fight is far from over despite the national decline in illicit cigarette consumption.

Estonian customs officials have seized a Lithuanian-registered truck carrying nine million cigarettes without Estonian tax stamps, ERR reported. The truck was stopped in Pärnu County on August 7 during a road inspection. It was driven by a 45-year-old Lithuanian citizen. According to the accompan…