The illicit cigarette market in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Findings from a cross-sectional study of empty cigarette packs
Noreen Dadirai Mdege, Christelle Tchoupé, Retselisitsoe Pokothoane, Didier Munguakonkwa Mirindi, Christus Cito Miderho, Kelley Sams, Patrick Bakengela Shamba, Emmanuel Kandate, Patrice Milambo, Hana Ross

TL;DR
This study found that a significant portion of cigarettes in the DRC are illicit, with low-income and conflict-prone areas having higher rates of illegal cigarette consumption.
Contribution
The study provides new empirical evidence on the scale and characteristics of illicit cigarette trade in the DRC.
Findings
8.6% of collected cigarette packs were illicit and evaded taxes.
Low-income areas had higher odds of illicit cigarette packs compared to high-income areas.
Illicit cigarettes were all imported, and border provinces had lower odds of illicit packs.
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the proportion of cigarettes consumed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that are illicit and the extent of cigarette tax evasion; and to identify the origins of and factors associated with illicit cigarettes. Data were collected from May 15 to June 9, 2023. Stratified, multistage sampling was used to select 32 health areas from which empty cigarette packs were collected. Each collected pack was examined and classified as licit if it complied, or illicit if it did not comply, with the DRC’s tax stamp or written health warning requirements, or the requirements to have a notice indicating the prohibition of sale by/to minors or information on tar and nicotine content. We reported frequencies as numbers and percentages, and continuous variables as means or medians. We performed regression analysis and used adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and their 95%…
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Taxonomy
TopicsSmoking Behavior and Cessation · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health disparities and outcomes
