Demand for black-market cigarettes has ballooned since the prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in January 2010 increased the tobacco excise by 30 per cent.
-
-
Istanbul's high foot traffic areas provide a choice avenue for tobacco smugglers to sell their illegal products. Delores Johnson / The National -
Mr Erdogan has labelled tobacco as more dangerous than terrorism. Delores Johnson / The National -
More than a quarter of Turkey’s 76.7 million people are believed to be smokers. Delores Johnson / The National -
Straddling the boundaries between Europe and Asia, Turkey is a natural gateway for contraband goods flowing between the regions. Delores Johnson / The National -
Wael Ismail, the Area Regulatory Affairs Manager for British American Tobacco gives a presentation on the current state of illegal tobacco products in the area. Delores Johnson / The National -
Tobacco industry officials say Turkey serves as a cautionary tale as they warn governments in the UAE. Delores Johnson / The National -
At present, tobacco taxes in the GCC are among the lowest in the world. Delores Johnson / The National -
Elie Atallah, left, is the AIT & Excise Manager for British American Tobacco Middle East. Delores Johnson / The National -
Istanbul, Turkey. Delores Johnson / Turkey -
Tobacco sellers in Istanbul, Turkey -
Illicit trade in Turkey rose to 16.2 billion cigarettes last year from 3.9 billion in 2007. Delores Johnson / The National
In pictures: Tobacco smuggling in Turkey
Most popular today
