Dhaka, Sept. 7 -- A shocking new study by Insight Metrics has uncovered an alarming surge in Bangladesh's illicit tobacco trade, exposing a sprawling underground network that's growing at an alarming rate. This isn't just petty smuggling or distribution of fake products, it's a full-blown criminal enterprise network, thriving in plain sight and costing the nation dearly.

Illicit cigarettes now make up 13.1% of the market -- an explosive 31% jump from last year. That's over 832 million illegal sticks flooding the streets every month, fueling a growing public and economic crisis. The bulk of this black market is dominated by Illicit Whites -- locally manufactured illegal cigarettes bearing fake, reused or no tax stamps, while contraband --...