Category: Economics


  • The Fog of War and the Smoke of Illicit Trade: A Levant in Transition

    The Middle East’s latest conflagration has not only redrawn the geopolitical map but has also ignited a shadow economy where Iran stands as a central, albeit isolated, pivot point. As the 2026 conflict intensifies, a predictable yet devastating byproduct has emerged from the rubble: a massive surge in the illicit tobacco trade. While the world’s…