Human faeces and rat droppings are among the disturbing contaminants found in illegal cigarettes, testing by Philip Morris International (PMI) has revealed.
The tobacco giant has discovered illicit cigarettes manufactured to “shockingly poor standards with a complete lack of quality control”, it said.
One in four cigarettes smoked in the UK are illicit, according to a 2025 KPMG report commissioned by PMI.
The UK remains the third-largest market for illegal cigarettes, with an estimated 5.9 billion sold each year, the report said.
“Unscrupulous retailers are stocking products of poor quality, frequently containing contaminants including rat droppings and even human faeces,” said Catherine Goger, illicit trade prevention manager at PMI.
“Illicit cigarettes are typically part of wider criminal networks that harm communities, damage high streets, and undermine legitimate local retailers. The same groups often trade in other illegal goods, including drugs, and will sell to anyone regardless of age.”
Fake cigarettes pose a significantly greater fire risk, according to Will O’Reilly, an external consultant for Philip Morris and former Met Police.
He said illicit whites and counterfeit cigarettes contain “no fire‑retardant measures” unlike legal products. “There has been house fires and deaths linked by coroners to illicit cigarettes,” he added.
Vapes, meanwhile, have been found laced with spice, and children are smoking them. A study by the University of Bath revealed one in four vapes confiscated from secondary school pupils in London and Lancashire contained the dangerous synthetic drug.
The study uncovered a widespread and overt market for spice‑laced vapes on social media platforms.
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