Massive Illegal Tobacco Warehouse Found in St. Petersburg

Aug.26.2022
Massive Illegal Tobacco Warehouse Found in St. Petersburg
Police discovered a warehouse with 140,000 counterfeit cigarettes worth an estimated 13.5 million rubles in Saint Petersburg.

On August 24th, according to a report from the main department of the Russian Interior Ministry, police discovered a warehouse containing 140,000 packets of counterfeit cigarettes in the Vyborg district of St. Petersburg. The estimated total cost of the counterfeit goods is 13.5 million rubles.


In February 2022, criminal proceedings were initiated against a 50-year-old resident of Saint Petersburg who was charged with trafficking counterfeit tobacco. During the investigation, the location of the warehouse was discovered. "During further investigation, the police began to establish all links in the chain of criminals involved in trafficking fake cigarettes. As a result, several warehouses were found on the Vyborgskoe highway in Saint Petersburg, where a large amount of illegal tobacco was stored," the report stated.


During the search, the police also detained a 42-year-old woman who had registered as a sole proprietor for a warehouse. The investigation suggests that she had purchased counterfeit cigarettes from the detained defendant.


Earlier, authorities discovered an illegal cigarette production site in a stable located in the southern part of Saint Petersburg.


Statement


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry communication and learning purposes.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the truthfulness or accuracy of the article's content. The translation of this article is solely for industry exchange and research purposes.


Due to limitations in translation ability, the translated article may not fully convey the intended meaning of the original. Therefore, the original text should be referred to for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan-related, or foreign-related statements or positions.


The copyright of compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Altria CEO Billy Gifford to Retire; Sal Mancuso Named Successor
Altria CEO Billy Gifford to Retire; Sal Mancuso Named Successor
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) announced that CEO Billy Gifford will retire at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 14, 2026, after more than 30 years with the company. The Board of Directors has elected Salvatore (Sal) Mancuso, Altria’s current Executive Vice President and CFO, to succeed him as CEO.
Dec.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Latvia’s Constitutional Court Upholds Vape Flavor Ban as Constitutional
Latvia’s Constitutional Court Upholds Vape Flavor Ban as Constitutional
The Constitutional Court of Latvia upheld the 2025 vape-flavor ban as constitutional, rejecting appeals by Pro Vape and SIA MASS Industry. Judges said the restrictions serve a legitimate public-health purpose by protecting youth from nicotine addiction and that the social benefits outweigh business losses.
Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai
From Partnership to Acquisition: Why KT&G Is Betting on the Global Nicotine Pouch Market
From Partnership to Acquisition: Why KT&G Is Betting on the Global Nicotine Pouch Market
As global competition in the nicotine pouch market accelerates, Korea’s tobacco major KT&G has moved with a “Partnership + Acquisition” strategy, teaming up with Altria to acquire Nordic pouch maker Another Snus Factory (brand “LOOP”). Why deploy capital now, and why take this route? Drawing on company disclosures, regulatory monitoring and on-site observations from InterTabac Dortmund, 2Firsts analyzes KT&G’s strategic calculus and the signals behind this move.
Nov.05
PMI Japan Upgrades IQOS ILUMA i One with New Button Layout, Aluminum Base
PMI Japan Upgrades IQOS ILUMA i One with New Button Layout, Aluminum Base
PMI Japan has refreshed its all-in-one heated tobacco device, IQOS ILUMA i One, with upgraded materials and exterior design. Sales begin October 29 via IQOS stores and the official website. The new model retains core features such as auto-start and continuous use, but is not compatible with accessories from the previous version.
Oct.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter
Australian Border Force Seizes 586M Cigarettes and 3M Vapes in Record First Quarter
Australian Border Force (ABF), 586 million cigarettes and over 3 million vapes were seized at Australia’s international border in the first quarter of the 2024–25 financial year (July 1–September 30), marking a continued upward trend over the past two years. Enhanced intelligence and data-sharing have enabled ABF to target suspicious consignments more effectively across all entry points.
Oct.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai
California Federal Judge Signals Likely Class Certification in Juul–Altria Antitrust Case
California Federal Judge Signals Likely Class Certification in Juul–Altria Antitrust Case
U.S. District Judge William Orrick of the Northern District of California indicated on Friday that he will likely certify classes of direct and indirect purchasers accusing e-cigarette makers Juul Labs Inc. and former rival Altria Group Inc. of conspiring to limit product variety and violate antitrust laws.
Oct.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai