Astonishing new figures have revealed the scale of Australia’s tobacco underbelly, which will dwarf the legal market after doubling in volume in just three years.

Tobacco stores across the country have been firebombed and ram-raided as organised criminal activity has blown out to unprecedented levels.

This week, the New South Wales government launched its war on the illicit tobacco trade, closing two stores in one of Australia’s biggest cities to kick off the major crackdown.

However, it has been revealed the sale of illegal cigarettes will double since 2022, from 3.1 billion to a whopping 6.6 billion by the end of this year.

Industry figures obtained by 2GB host Ben Fordham showed illegal tobacco “dominating” the legal market.

The legal market has decreased by two-thirds, from about

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