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.

FDA Says Flavored ENDS Must Show “Added Benefit” as Small Manufacturers Seek Clearer Switching Benchmarks
FDA Says Flavored ENDS Must Show “Added Benefit” as Small Manufacturers Seek Clearer Switching Benchmarks
During the FDA PMTA roundtable session on “Studies of Adult Benefit,” officials said flavored ENDS must demonstrate “added benefit” over tobacco-flavored products under the APPH standard, including sustained complete switching evidence. Small manufacturers questioned switching benchmarks, study duration, and bridging expectations.
Feb.11
Malaysia’s Perak Health Department says seized vape-related items valued at RM2,738 during two-week operation
Malaysia’s Perak Health Department says seized vape-related items valued at RM2,738 during two-week operation
Malaysia’s Perak State Health Department said it carried out a two-week joint enforcement operation from January 1 to 14, 2026, in line with the state government’s policy prohibiting renewals of vape sales licences effective January 1.
Jan.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | Vaporesso lists Vibe SE 2 on official site, offering leather/plated versions and a 1,400mAh battery
Product | Vaporesso lists Vibe SE 2 on official site, offering leather/plated versions and a 1,400mAh battery
Vaporesso has recently listed the Vibe SE 2, a new device in its Vibe series, on the brand’s official website. The product is positioned as an entry-level MTL device and features a 1,400mAh built-in battery with Type-C 1A charging. It is available in two finishes—Leather and Plated—while listings on online retail channels show prices of around $17.99 and £22.99.
Jan.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
California and New Jersey advance bills to curb vape-waste risks tied to facility fires
California and New Jersey advance bills to curb vape-waste risks tied to facility fires
US state lawmakers and recycling groups are pursuing 2026 measures to address safety issues linked to vape waste through legislation, take-back programs and educational outreach. California’s State Assembly passed a bill to ban disposable vape pens, while New Jersey reintroduced an extended producer responsibility bill for e-cigarettes.
Feb.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BREAKING: China Brings Nicotine Pouches Under Tobacco Monopoly Regulation, Signaling Major Shift for Oral Products
BREAKING: China Brings Nicotine Pouches Under Tobacco Monopoly Regulation, Signaling Major Shift for Oral Products
China has for the first time issued clear regulatory rules for nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products, formally classifying them under the tobacco monopoly alongside cigarettes and tobacco, ending a long-standing legal grey zone and laying the regulatory groundwork for their potential domestic launch.
Jan.09 by Alan Zhao | 2Firsts Perspectives
BlackRock Enters Top Shareholder Ranks as KT&G Holding Reaches 5.01%
BlackRock Enters Top Shareholder Ranks as KT&G Holding Reaches 5.01%
BlackRock increased its stake in KT&G to 5.01% after purchasing 68,646 shares, bringing total holdings to 5,914,169 shares and triggering Korea’s large-shareholding disclosure rules. KT&G shares climbed to an all-time intraday high of 153,900(about US$106.19) won and closed at a record 152,900(about US$105.50) won. KT&G is set to report earnings on Feb. 5, with consensus pointing to year-on-year growth in revenue and operating profit.
Jan.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai