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.

Germany Sees 18.2% Jump in Taxed Tobacco Substitutes in 2025, Including E-liquids
Germany Sees 18.2% Jump in Taxed Tobacco Substitutes in 2025, Including E-liquids
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said 66.4 billion cigarettes were taxed in 2025, up 0.2% from 2024, while long-term volumes have more than halved since 1991 and per-capita consumption fell to 795 cigarettes. Taxed tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarette liquids reached 1.5 million liters, up 18.2% year on year.
Jan.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Swedish Oral Pouch Manufacturer WiJo to Establish U.S. Production Base, Targeting March 2026 Start-Up
Swedish Oral Pouch Manufacturer WiJo to Establish U.S. Production Base, Targeting March 2026 Start-Up
Swedish oral pouch manufacturer WiJo Pouches has announced plans to establish its first North American production facility in South Carolina, where it will lease a manufacturing site to produce nicotine, caffeine and functional pouch products. The project, expected to begin operations in March 2026 and create about 170 jobs, has secured tax incentive support from both state and county authorities.
Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea to Classify Synthetic Nicotine E-Cigarettes as Tobacco from April 2026
South Korea will implement amendments to its Tobacco Business Act on April 24, 2026, officially classifying synthetic nicotine liquid e-cigarettes as tobacco. This marks the first revision of the legal definition of tobacco since 1988. Once in effect, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be subject to existing tobacco regulations, including health warnings, advertising restrictions, smoke-free area enforcement, and youth protection measures.
Dec.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report|With Charlie’s US Line Online, the US-Filled Vape Supply Chain Model Enters a New Phase
Special Report|With Charlie’s US Line Online, the US-Filled Vape Supply Chain Model Enters a New Phase
Charlie’s Holdings has activated its first US-based manufacturing and filling line, enabling the company’s Pachamama 25K vape series to meet Texas’ new domestic manufacturing requirements. As state-level rules tighten, the move signals a broader industry shift toward US-filled supply chains and marks an inflection point for brands historically reliant on China-based prefilled production.
Industry Insight
Dec.02
Maldives Customs Report Vape Fines Reach  US$42.8 Million, Mostly from Malaysia Imports
Maldives Customs Report Vape Fines Reach US$42.8 Million, Mostly from Malaysia Imports
Maldives Customs data shows that fines related to illegal vapes have reached MVR 659 million (about US$42.8 million) since the country banned the import and use of electronic cigarettes. Authorities said most seized vapes were brought in by travellers arriving from Malaysia. The largest single case involved 10,800 vapes, resulting in a fine of MVR 108 million (about US$7.02 million).
Dec.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan Speeds Up Local Nicotine Pouch Production as PMI Unit Prepares to Launch ZYN
Pakistan’s smokeless, tobacco-free nicotine pouch market has expanded rapidly in recent years, prompting major tobacco companies to accelerate local investments, with Philip Morris Pakistan Ltd. (PMPKL) set to produce ZYN at its Sahiwal facility.
Dec.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai