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.

Product | VOZOL launches new GEAR-series device in the UK and UAE, featuring a 2.1-inch colour screen and sound interaction
Product | VOZOL launches new GEAR-series device in the UK and UAE, featuring a 2.1-inch colour screen and sound interaction
Vape brand VOZOL has recently listed a disposable shisha-style product, the GEAR HOOKAH 40000, on its official website. Public information shows the device comes with a 26ml e-liquid capacity, offers 3mg/ml and 5mg/ml nicotine strengths, and is marketed at 25,000–40,000 puffs. It is currently available via selected online retail channels in the UK and the UAE.
Feb.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russia to Start Extrajudicial Blocking of Sites Selling Tobacco and Nicotine Products Online From March 1
Russia to Start Extrajudicial Blocking of Sites Selling Tobacco and Nicotine Products Online From March 1
Russia will introduce an extrajudicial (non-court) blocking mechanism starting March 1, 2026, allowing authorities to block websites selling tobacco and nicotine-containing products online without a court order. State Duma member Anton Nemkin said the change will place offending sites directly onto the prohibited information registry, speeding up enforcement, reducing the court burden, and increasing platform obligations to proactively monitor content.
Jan.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
EVO NXT 2026 Offers Unique Insights Into A Dynamic Industry
EVO NXT 2026 Offers Unique Insights Into A Dynamic Industry
Feb.09
Tennessee’s “Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act” Would Require New Licenses for Tobacco and Vapes
Tennessee’s “Tobacco Product Retail Licensing Act” Would Require New Licenses for Tobacco and Vapes
A newly introduced Tennessee bill, S.B. 2086, would create a statewide tobacco product retail licensing system, move oversight to the Tennessee Alcohol Commission, and impose fees and escalating penalties. The proposal also requires all tobacco product sales to occur as in-person, over-the-counter transactions at licensed locations—effectively banning direct-to-consumer shipping of cigars and potentially restricting curbside or phone-order pickup models.
Jan.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
West Virginia House Passes 5% Income Tax Cut and Rejects Vape Tax Increase
West Virginia House Passes 5% Income Tax Cut and Rejects Vape Tax Increase
The West Virginia House of Delegates debates income tax cut bill before session's end, rejecting Senate's e-cigarette tax amendment.With one day left in the legislative session, the West Virginia House spent more than an hour debating amendments to an income tax reduction bill.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
JT to Launch New Ploom Stick Variant “EVO Sakura Regular” Nationwide in Japan on April 6
JT to Launch New Ploom Stick Variant “EVO Sakura Regular” Nationwide in Japan on April 6
JT said it will begin rolling out “EVO Sakura Regular,” a new product under the premium EVO brand for the heated tobacco brand Ploom, at convenience stores and tobacco retailers across Japan from April 6. The product has already been on sale since February 3 through the CLUB JT online shop and Ploom Shops nationwide.
Mar.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai