In the city of Nantes, located in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, a significant portion of cigarettes sold do not pass through legal retail channels. More than half of the cigarettes in circulation bypass the official network of tobacco retailers, often ending up in the hands of consumers through unofficial or illicit means. A substantial portion of these cigarettes is counterfeit. One in five cigarettes sold in the area is fake, produced in illegal manufacturing facilities located overseas. These counterfeit cigarettes are typically made using substandard materials and may pose serious health risks to consumers due to the use of harmful substances and poor manufacturing practices. The counterfeit cigarettes often find their way into local markets through informal or nighttime retail outlets. These stores operate outside the usual hours and may not be subject to the same regulatory checks as traditional shops. As a result, they can sell these illegal products for a fraction of the price of genuine cigarettes, making them particularly attractive to price-sensitive consumers. Authorities have been working to combat the spread of counterfeit tobacco products, but the issue remains a challenge due to the global nature of the illegal manufacturing and distribution networks. The presence of these illicit cigarettes not only undermines legal tobacco sales but also raises public health concerns, as the quality and safety of these products cannot be guaranteed.