Illegal cigarette industry explodes under Covid-19 lockdown with help from police: Yusuf Abramjee

Mr Yusuf Abramjee, head of Tax Justice SA, has campaigned tirelessly for the South African government to bring to book the hardened criminals and dirty tobacco industry companies that have made huge sums on the backs of taxpayers. Although law enforcers were making some headway in pursuing charges in the criminal justice system against some of the villains, under the Covid-19 lockdown illegal trade has exploded. In this podcast, Mr Abramjee describes how industrial-scale illicit cigarette dealing and cross-border smuggling has flourished under the government's ban on the sale of tobacco products. He appeals for a rethink, telling BizNews that the government is losing R35m a day in taxes – at a time when it could be shoring them up by allowing smokers to buy their poison through the formal retail sector. – Jackie Cameron

Mr. Yusuf Abramjee is the founder of Tax Justice South Africa. Mr. Abramjee, you've caused quite a stir with a tweet you've posted showing that the illegal tobacco industry is booming even though South Africa is in lockdown. Can you please take us through this – where do you get that evidence from?

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