Ties Between Cigarette Smuggling and Terrorist Organizations

Investigative Reports Find Growing Ties Between Cigarette Smuggling and Terrorist Organizations

Underscore Need for Strong Treaty to Combat Problem

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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—As nations meet in Geneva this week to negotiate an international treaty to combat cigarette smuggling, new investigative journalism reports released today find an increasing link between the illicit tobacco trade and funding for terrorist organizations.

The investigations, which also detail the world’s largest tobacco smuggling hubs, underscore the vast scope and seriousness of the illicit tobacco trade and the urgent need for the nearly 150 nations meeting in Geneva to quickly negotiate the strongest possible treaty to combat this problem./.../