The recent massive bust of illegal Newport cigarettes in Dorchester is “only the tip of the iceberg” for the illicit menthol market in the Bay State, according to a group that says menthol use has remained the same since the ban in 2020.

The New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association is out with a report that shows the percentage of Massachusetts adult smokers who use menthol has remained virtually unchanged — despite the 2020 state ban on flavored tobacco.

The recent survey found that 37.5% of Bay State smokers who are 18-plus reported using menthol cigarette products in 2019, compared to 36.9% in 2022.

Also, 3.9% of all adults in Massachusetts reported smoking menthol in 2019, compared with 3.8% in 2022.

“The data is clear: bans do not work,” NECSEMA Executive Director Peter Brennan said in a statement. “As we warned before this ill-advised policy was put in place, the buying and selling of menthol cigarettes in Massachusetts has continued unabated, despite these legal adult products being removed from the shelves of licensed, regulated retailers.

“Those who prefer menthol are continuing to buy these products in neighboring states that are now reaping the tax benefits, or even worse, on the illicit market, from criminals and organized crime factions,” Brennan added.

Earlier this week, a 51-year-old Alabama man was arrested for allegedly selling boxes of illegal Newport cigarettes in Dorchester’s Grove Hall neighborhood.

The arrest followed complaints from residents about drug activity and the illicit sale of unstamped cigarettes in the area, police said. Officers found multiple packages of unstamped cigarettes, several bags of marijuana, a loaded 9 mm handgun, and cash.

“This troubling case of alleged trafficking in banned menthol cigarettes unfortunately is only the tip of the iceberg as the illicit market is clearly thriving in Massachusetts,” Brennan said.

“The data is clear that usage of menthol and other flavored tobacco products has not decreased since the ban went into effect and criminals know that they can easily purchase these in-demand items in neighboring states or via the Internet and sell them on our streets here in Massachusetts,” the NECSEMA executive director added.

The new report also found that Massachusetts has not seen a larger decrease in overall smoking habits among adults 21-plus, when compared with other states that still allow menthol and flavored tobacco usage.

If all adult menthol smokers had quit, the expected adult smoking prevalence in 2022 would have been around 7%. But the actual smoking prevalence among adults 21-plus is 10.7%.

“Massachusetts is losing out on more than $100 million per year in sales tax revenue from menthol sales that are now going to New Hampshire and Rhode Island,” Brennan said. “We are seeing cartons of menthols being sold on our streets, unchecked. The data makes it crystal clear that the flavored tobacco ban in Massachusetts has been a complete failure. The numbers do not lie.”