* Illegal Activity: Selling cigarettes to minors is illegal in most countries, making it difficult to track accurately. Those involved in illegal sales are unlikely to report their activities.
* Lack of Centralized Reporting: There's no global or even consistently national database tracking this specific violation. Data collection varies widely by country and region.
* Underreporting: Even when sales are caught, underreporting by retailers and distributors is a significant possibility.
While specific numbers are not available, numerous studies and reports consistently show that underage smoking remains a significant public health problem. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US track youth smoking rates, but these figures represent *consumption*, not directly the number of illegal sales. The number of illegal sales is certainly substantial, but an exact figure is impossible to obtain.