From 16-18 September 2025, representatives from customs authorities and other stakeholders met in Helsinki for the 28th edition of the Tobacco Conference. Organised by OLAF in cooperation with the Finnish Customs, over 100 participants discussed persistent and evolving challenges in relation to tobacco smuggling and illicit production of cigarettes which do not only harm public budgets but also public health policies. In the focus were new routes and emerging fraud schemes.

A major current challenge is fraud in vaping products which have become an attractive market for criminals due to their popularity especially among young people. Participants agreed on strengthening their cooperation, exchange intelligence and coordinate enforcement efforts in this complex phenomenon.

The annual Tobacco Conference is an important event for OLAF's strategy to reinforce the global fight against illicit tobacco and counterfeit cigarettes, as well as to promote better law enforcement against tobacco fraud.