Multiple Australian outlets report that new figures show a large rise in the number of people buying illegal cigarettes and nicotine products. The reports frame the development as growth in the tobacco black market, citing the same overall finding: more Australians are purchasing contraband or unregulated tobacco and nicotine items than before. While the coverage emphasizes the scale of the increase, it generally does not detail specific drivers such as price changes, enforcement actions, or consumer motivations. The articles also indicate that the increase is not limited to cigarettes, but includes other nicotine products sold through illegal channels. Across the sources, the central theme is the availability and consumption of illicit tobacco and nicotine, as reflected in the newly released data. The reporting remains consistent in describing the situation as a “massive” or “sharp” spike, but the information provided here focuses on the existence and direction of the change rather than on particular numbers, locations, or policy responses.