A new report shows HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has slashed the tax gap on illicit cigarettes and tobacco by more than half since 2005.

Between April 2023 and March 2024 HMRC also secured prison sentences totalling 148 years against 107 cigarette and tobacco fraudsters.

In the same period, more than 1.3 billion illicit cigarettes have been seized, worth more than £678m in tax, along with hand-rolling tobacco worth £41m.