409,000 Packs of Untaxed Cigarettes Seized in Russia

Apr.04.2023
409,000 Packs of Untaxed Cigarettes Seized in Russia
Russian officials seized 409,000 untaxed packs of Belarusian cigarettes, worth $4.6 million, disguised as cherry shipments.

Customs officials and federal security service border control personnel in Smolensk, Russia, have seized 409,000 packs of Belarusian cigarettes without tax stamps. The detained goods are estimated to be worth 46 million rubles (approximately 4 million yuan).


Rustam Yakupov, head of the Smolensk Customs Office, stated that a truck travelling from Belarus to Moscow was intercepted in the Kruglovo region of Smolensk. According to documents, the truck was loaded with 20 tons of Chinese frozen cherry without pits, but custom officials discovered large quantities of illegal cigarettes in some of the boxes.


Since the mandatory implementation of honest labeling on April 1st, there has been a growing variety of illegal tobacco transportation methods. Transporting unmarked tobacco products is considered an illegal activity, and those involved may face criminal charges under Article 171.1 of the Russian Criminal Code.


Reference:


Cigarettes disguised as cherries.


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.

Russia’s Federation Council Approves Ban on Vape and Cigarette Sales at Transport Stops
Russia’s Federation Council Approves Ban on Vape and Cigarette Sales at Transport Stops
Russia’s Federation Council has approved a law banning the sale of all nicotine-containing products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes, at urban and suburban public transport stops. The law includes an exemption for cases where a retail outlet at a stop is the only point of sale in a locality. The legislation will come into force on September 1, 2026.
Dec.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
AIR Acquires Germany’s NameLess to Expand Global Presence in Flavored Hookah Market
AIR Acquires Germany’s NameLess to Expand Global Presence in Flavored Hookah Market
AIR Limited, the Dubai-based global leader in hookah and advanced inhalation technologies, announced the acquisition of NameLess, one of Germany’s most recognized brands for premium flavored hookah products.
Dec.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
2Firsts Insights | From Limited-Edition Frenzy to Interactive Lead-Gen: The 2025 Halloween Shift in Vape Marketing
2Firsts Insights | From Limited-Edition Frenzy to Interactive Lead-Gen: The 2025 Halloween Shift in Vape Marketing
For Halloween 2025, leading vape brands such as HQD and ELFBAR are running overseas social-media engagement campaigns—covering points programs and UGC giveaways with age/region restrictions. Unlike 2024’s wave of themed devices, no brand-new Halloween limited editions have appeared on major U.S. channels this year; only RAZ has restocked last year’s version.
Oct.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Wales Passes Law Banning Tobacco Sales to Anyone Born After 2009
Wales Passes Law Banning Tobacco Sales to Anyone Born After 2009
The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) has approved new legislation banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The law, passed on December 9, 2025, also imposes stricter controls on how vapes and nicotine products are advertised and sold. Designed by the UK Government but voted on separately in Wales, the bill passed with 36 votes in favor, two abstentions, and nine against. It grants stronger enforcement powers to Trading Standards to combat illegal tobacco and vape sales.
Dec.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | OXVA launches Artio 2 liquid-tobacco pod device, positioned as distinct from HNB and traditional flavored e-cigarettes
Product | OXVA launches Artio 2 liquid-tobacco pod device, positioned as distinct from HNB and traditional flavored e-cigarettes
OXVA has released its Artio 2 pod device featuring the Liquid Tobacco Intelligent (LTI) platform. It offers around 400 puffs per charge, pods equivalent to about 35 cigarettes, five tobacco and shisha flavors, and a 900mAh battery with 30-minute fast charging. The company positions the device as distinct from HNB and traditional flavored e-cigarettes.
Nov.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
U.S. Court Rules Zyn Marketing Dispute Can Proceed, Rejects Philip Morris International’s Bid to Dismiss
U.S. Court Rules Zyn Marketing Dispute Can Proceed, Rejects Philip Morris International’s Bid to Dismiss
A U.S. federal court in Florida denied Philip Morris International and its subsidiaries’ motion to dismiss, allowing consumers to proceed with claims under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act alleging that Zyn nicotine pouches’ “tobacco-free” marketing is misleading. The court held that the allegations do not amount to a fraud claim and may move forward to the merits stage.
Dec.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai