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.

Russian State Duma Committee supports bill for tobacco and nicotine products market legalization
Russian State Duma Committee supports bill for tobacco and nicotine products market legalization
A bill endorsing a licensing system for tobacco and nicotine products has been recommended in Russia's State Duma.
Nov.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russia’s FSB Seizes Illegal Vape Warehouse Worth USD 6 Million
Russia’s FSB Seizes Illegal Vape Warehouse Worth USD 6 Million
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Tula Region dismantled an underground warehouse containing counterfeit vape products worth over 500 million rubles (approximately USD 6 million). A 27-year-old suspect was detained and faces up to 12 years in prison.
Nov.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI’s Smoke-Free Playbook: What Jacek Olczak Really Told Wall Street
PMI’s Smoke-Free Playbook: What Jacek Olczak Really Told Wall Street
At the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference on December 2, 2025, PMI CEO Jacek Olczak delivered a clear message: the company’s smoke-free shift is now its central strategy. From ZYN’s surge in the U.S. to IQOS’s global momentum and a changing regulatory tone, his remarks sounded less like an earnings update and more like a declaration of PMI’s smoke-free future.
PMI
Dec.03
2Firsts Co-Founder and CEO Alan Zhao Speaks at PouchEX 2025: Highlighting China’s Critical Role in the Global Nicotine Pouch Industry
2Firsts Co-Founder and CEO Alan Zhao Speaks at PouchEX 2025: Highlighting China’s Critical Role in the Global Nicotine Pouch Industry
At PouchEX 2025 in Sweden, 2Firsts CEO Alan Zhao delivered an invited keynote, outlining China’s critical role in the global nicotine pouch industry from both supply chain and consumer insight perspectives, drawing significant attention from the international community.
Nov.17
KT&G Revises Partnership Terms with PMI, Secures Overseas Commercialization Rights for Multiple Heated Tobacco Platforms
KT&G Revises Partnership Terms with PMI, Secures Overseas Commercialization Rights for Multiple Heated Tobacco Platforms
KT&G has revised the terms of its 15-year partnership agreement with Philip Morris International (PMI), securing overseas commercialization rights for multiple heated tobacco platforms and adjusting the minimum guaranteed sales volume for lil-exclusive heated tobacco sticks from 16 billion units to 11 billion units.
Dec.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Belgium Plans to Ban All Vape Flavours Except Tobacco, Backed by Health Council
Belgium Plans to Ban All Vape Flavours Except Tobacco, Backed by Health Council
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has announced plans to ban all e-cigarette flavours except tobacco, following new advice from the Superior Health Council (CSS). The move marks a major policy shift, as the Council now fully supports flavour restrictions to curb youth vaping.
Nov.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai