Mexico faces surge in illegal cigarette smuggling and counterfeit trade

Mexico is facing a significant crisis in its tobacco industry due to the proliferation of illegal and counterfeit cigarettes. According to data from the sector, one in four cigarettes sold in the country is smuggled or counterfeit, originating primarily from countries such as Paraguay, Vietnam, and China.

Cuauhtémoc Rivera, president of the Alianza Nacional de Pequeños Comerciantes, warned that these products lack quality guarantees and regulatory oversight, posing direct risks to public health. Furthermore, the illicit market creates unfair competition for small businesses, as illegal packs can be priced up to ten times lower than legal ones.

Data from the 2025 National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (ENCODAT) shows that smoking prevalence among the population aged 12 to 65 has seen limited reduction, moving from 17.6% in 2016 to 15.1% in 2025. Tommaso Di Giovanni, Vice President of Communication at Philip Morris International, noted that approximately 15 million people smoke in Mexico. He identified illegal trade as a major obstacle to reducing smoking rates, as it allows consumers to bypass economic measures intended to discourage consumption through price increases.