Tobacco products are the best-selling commodity on the black market in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with as many as 49% of the country's citizens purchasing cigarettes and tobacco in this way.
A research study released in 2020 by the Policy and Management Center, a think tank organization based in Sarajevo that addresses European integration and public administration reform issues, confirms this statement.
According to an analysis by the non-governmental organization Liberalni Forum, 3.6 billion cigarettes were sold in the legal market that year, and it is estimated that the number of cigarettes sold on the black market in 2020 will be twice that amount.
According to the same study, from 2008 to 2020, legal cigarette sales decreased by 7.6 billion per year, despite the number of smokers not decreasing significantly during this period. Therefore, according to the analysis of the Free Forum, it is certain that smokers turn to cheaper black markets.
Resad from Sarajevo has been buying tobacco on the market for seven years. He says he has been doing this since he retired, as the prices of legally sold cigarettes have continuously been rising. Resad pays 12 euros per month for two and a half kilograms of tobacco.
I mainly buy tobacco from the same person. Sometimes it's not available in the market, so he brings it to me from his car or a nearby cafe," said the man from Sarajevo. He added that a few years ago, the police confiscated tobacco from his seller. Nevertheless, he said he continues to engage in resale activities.
The tobacco purchased for Re's advertisement lacked manufacturer, supplier, or consumer tax stamps. He believes it originated from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The most common countries from where cigarettes and tobacco are smuggled into Bosnia and Herzegovina are Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania. According to the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA), Bosnia and Herzegovina is a transit country on the international smuggling route to European Union (EU) member states.
This year, the prosecutor's office in Bosnia and Herzegovina has charged 13 individuals with illegal tobacco and cigarette trade. Three of these individuals are members of the Bosnian border police, as reported by RSE.
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