Smokers will never stop smoking, because tobacco smugglers continue to sell more and more cigarettes at low prices. For smugglers, even low prices of cigarettes means high profits.

A lot of tobacco contrabandists could be due compensation because their properties were undeservedly confiscated, officials explained.

Scientist showed in a recent study that more than £10m has been restored from smugglers during the last four years. Unfortunately officials failed to post a modification in the law in 2001, which meant only the main gamblers in smuggling scams should have had their valuable properties seized.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have called the slide "deeply reprehensible", while critics said it was "absurd". The new unpleasant legislation that have masterminded smuggling operations, or caught in the act of importing tobacco illegally, should have been demanded to pay duty on the goods.

However, many people lower down cigarette smuggling chains, such as those who transported or sold the tobacco, have also been motive to confiscation orders.

These are made by judges to allow agencies to protect ill-gotten profits from convicted criminals. HMRC officials have already examined more than 700 cases, with at least three such orders being revoked. A further 3,300 remain to be checked, with an estimated 10% of cases likely to need remuneration and compensation. "While the error is deeply reprehensible we were not alone in making it: the same error has been made in academic texts and by practitioners at all levels," said a spokesman.

Paul Holmes, Liberal Democrat home concerns spokesman, said: "A lot of professionals are involved. How can they not spot for eight years that the law had changed? It's just impossible to comprehend, apart from the legislative diarrhea of the government that constantly inundates people with new laws."

Scientists concluded that smuggling and other illegal activities appeared because of higher tobacco tax which was approved in hope to deter smoking among inhabitants especially minors.