41 billion counterfeit cigarettes produced each year in North Korea and are then sold in China, Japan, and the United States.
Intelligence agencies estimate that the country makes between $500 to $700 million per year selling the illegal cigarettes.
Source: Richard Lloyd Parry, “An economy built on drug dealers, ivory poachers and counterfeiters”, The Times (United Kingdom), October 11,2006.
Source: “Fake Cigarettes ‘N. Korea’s Biggest Money-Spinner’,” Chosum Ilbo, August 17, 2006.