Malaysia is world's largest consumer of illegal cigarettes

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has become the largest consumer of illegal cigarettes in the world, with over 12 billion sticks sold last year, according to a study by research house Nielson and the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers.

The situation can only be addressed by a more sustained level of strategic enforcement to curb the supply and demand for these illegal cigarettes, said JT International Bhd (JTI) managing director Cormac O'Rourke, quoting the study.