In a European picture of substantial worsening of the illicit phenomenon, with 35.2 billion smuggled cigarettes consumed (8.3% of total consumption) and 11.6 billion euros in lost tax revenue, Italy confirmed itself as a best practice in combating the phenomenon again in 2023. In fact, the percentage of illicit consumption has further decreased to 1.8% of the total (-0.5% vs. 2022), although the estimated loss of tax revenue amounts to a considerable figure of about 219 million euros. The comparison with some countries such as France - where illicit cigarette consumption in 2023 stood at a record 33% - characterized by particularly restrictive regulatory and fiscal approaches is impressive. This was revealed by the results of a survey sponsored by the Observatory on Crime in Agriculture. While Italy ranks among the countries with the lowest consumption of illicit cigarettes, it also has the highest number of seizures, charges and arrests there, something certified by the World Customs Organization. This is because smuggling routes see the Boot as a place of transit: from North Africa, Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Southeast Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula, trafficking reaches Italy and from there radiates to those countries where the consumer price of cigarettes is highest, including France, the United Kingdom and Ireland.