News Summary

• The European Court of Auditors has published two findings that sit awkwardly together.
• The EU has no reliable picture of the size or structure of its illicit tobacco market.
• The criminal networks running that market, according to the auditor who led the report, are using artificial intelligence to work out where to move next.
• Special report 23/2026 estimates the annual cost to EU and national budgets at €13bn.
• Roughly one in 10 cigarettes made in the bloc is smuggled or produced illegally..
• Vapes and heated tobacco now account for about 13% of the illicit market by value.