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<p>HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) currently has no direct evidence that profits from
tobacco fraud fund any specific terrorist groups.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
joint HMRC/Border Force strategy to tackle tobacco smuggling has been successful in
driving a consistent and sustained reduction in the illicit market in the UK, reducing
the market share for illicit cigarettes by more than half and hand-rolling tobacco
by one-third since 2000.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The latest tobacco anti-fraud
strategy ‘Tackling Tobacco Smuggling – building on our successes’ was launched in
April 2011. Its objective is to achieve further sustainable downward pressure on the
illicit market in cigarettes through to 2015. A copy was placed in the House of Commons
library at that time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In 2013/14, HMRC referred 328
cases for prosecution and seized 1,437 million cigarettes and 330 tonnes of hand-rolling
tobacco.</p><p> </p>
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