the actions
WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS
TAKEN BY PUBLIC AUTHORITIES?
In France, Customs, the Gendarmerie and the National Police are mobilised to combat the trafficking of illicit cigarettes. For example, through its controls and “crackdown” operations, the latest report from the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI) states that 488.73 tons of tobacco were seized in 2024.
Investigations carried out nationwide also lead to the dismantling of organized crime networks specializing in the manufacture and/or wholesale of counterfeit cigarettes.
2020 (1) : Customs seized 284 tons of tobacco in the territory.
2023 (2) : 521 tons of tobacco and cigarettes were seized nationwide
2024 (3) : 488.7 tons of tobacco seized by French customs,
18,407 offenses recorded.
2024 (4) : 3 dismantling operations of clandestine counterfeit cigarette manufacturing plants were carried out nationwide
Sources
(1) : National Assembly, Bill No. 2104 aimed at strengthening the fight against tobacco trafficking and more severely punishing perpetrators, presented by Mr. Christophe BLANCHET, Deputy, 2024.
(2) : Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Activity Report and Summary of 2023 Figures – Picardy Customs, June 2024.
(3) : French Customs, Infographic – Figures from the 2024 Annual Customs Report, March 2025.
(4) : Amélie de Montchalin presents the results of French Customs for the year 2024, Press Release Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, March 24, 2025.
DISMANTLING OF A COUNTERFEIT TOBACCO FACTORY
ACTIONS
BY UNIFAB
Since 2021, Unifab has conducted annual prevention campaigns to raise public awareness of the economic, health, and security dangers of cigarette counterfeiting.
The first operation, launched in Lyon at the end of 2021, relied on a digital and local approach. In 2022, the campaign expanded to Île-de-France, with an increased presence on social media and in the press. In 2023, a targeted campaign was conducted in partnership with the Federation of Tobacconists in the Gard, Loire, Haute-Loire, Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Lozère regions, combining digital communication and outdoor advertising.
The year 2024 marked a national mobilization: digital campaigns, publications in the press and municipal bulletins, DOOH displays in train stations, and outdoor communication during the Mayors’ Exhibition. This momentum continued in 2025 with a new wave of awareness-raising nationwide, aiming to strengthen the vigilance of the general public, young people, and institutions.
In 2026, Unifab continues its commitment with a campaign enhanced by the launch of this new, more interactive and dynamic website, to inform, alert, and mobilize even more widely against this scourge.
HOW
CAN I ACT
AT MY LEVEL
Buying counterfeit cigarettes means funding criminal networks and participating in the development of illegal sales channels on the street, in grocery stores, and on social media.
The rise of cigarette counterfeiting in France largely stems from a lack of information about the significance and seriousness of this illegal market and its players. By sharing this information with your loved ones and on social media, you can contribute to raising awareness of the phenomenon and limit its harmful effects.
You can also report any illicit online content by using the governmental platform PHAROS: