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"As a criminal industry, cigarette smuggling is so profitable that even Colombia's drug lords and Italy's mafia groups have gone into it in a big, and often violent, way. But the real perpetrators, according to allegations explored at length in this story, are the major tobacco companies, which have not only tolerated the smuggling, -- but have actively organized, promoted and encouraged it, in cooperation with some of the worlds' seediest business partners. Big Tobacco's evident goal: to undermine public policy in many countries, especially in the West, where high taxes and duties are used to reduce smoking among adults and prevent it amount young people.