A Fake Shipping Container Leads to Chinese Cigarettes — and Italy’s Camorra Crime Group
A bust of 17 tons of illicit cigarettes in Italy led back to China Tobacco’s European factory — where an executive was working closely with a group of smugglers to help them move cigarettes around Europe. Reporters found the company shipping large numbers of cigarettes to suspicious buyers in Iraq, Montenegro, Moldova, and more. Key...
Gambia: Health ministry announces new crackdown on smokers
The ministry of health has announced law enforcement officers shall embark on full enforcement of the ban on public smoking. In a statement on Monday, the ministry said smokers have been flouting the law prohibiting smoking in public places. “…the Ministry has noted with concern the low compliance rate among the general public and institutions in...
Huge Quantities of Chinese Cigarettes Smuggled Into Ukraine
China Tobacco’s factory in Europe is selling hundreds of millions of cigarettes to companies in Ukraine under investigation for cigarette smuggling — one co-owned by a former border official with ties to the president. Key Findings China Tobacco has exported hundreds of millions of cigarettes to Ukraine from its European factory since 2013, even though...
China Tobacco ‘Very Discreetly’ Becomes Leaf-Buying Powerhouse in Brazil
China is complying with recommendations under a global treaty to decrease the amount of land under tobacco cultivation –– but its massive state-owned conglomerate is shifting production overseas. Brazil has become a major supplier, with farmers working under difficult conditions to grow tobacco for Chinese cigarettes. Key Findings Despite significant growth since it launched in...
Illegal Chinese Cigarettes Flooding Latin America Flow Through Panama
China Tobacco’s factory in Panama was shut down by authorities after its cigarettes kept making their way onto the black market there. A network of companies sprang up in its place — and have been shipping huge numbers of cigarettes from Panama around the region. Key Findings Countries from Mexico to Ecuador are seeing spikes...
What is China Tobacco?
What is China Tobacco? How is China Tobacco linked to the Chinese government? How is China Tobacco structured? How does China Tobacco differ from other multinational tobacco companies? How profitable is CNTC? Where in the world are China Tobacco’s cigarettes sold? What treaties regulate China Tobacco? I hear a lot about “Big Tobacco”...
