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.

U.S. Nicotine Pouch Sales Surge, Forcing Convenience Stores to Rethink Backbar Layouts
U.S. Nicotine Pouch Sales Surge, Forcing Convenience Stores to Rethink Backbar Layouts
U.S. convenience stores are restructuring backbar displays as nicotine pouches and other modern oral products gain space amid regulatory and product-mix shifts. The New York Association of Convenience Stores reports nicotine pouch sales are up over 40% this year, while some chains are trimming cigarette facings and testing zero-nicotine and herbal alternatives.
Dec.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
JT Partners with Japan’s Year-End Music Festivals, Unveils Eight Limited-Edition Ploom AURA Front Panels
JT Partners with Japan’s Year-End Music Festivals, Unveils Eight Limited-Edition Ploom AURA Front Panels
Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) will partner with two major year-end music festivals in Japan to set up “Ploom LOUNGE” smoking areas on-site, offering trial experiences of its Ploom AURA heated tobacco device. The company will also launch eight festival-exclusive front panels for Ploom AURA, distributed through on-site exchanges and a member lottery program.
Dec.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Kentucky to Require Tobacco and Vape Retailers to Be Licensed Starting January 2026
Kentucky to Require Tobacco and Vape Retailers to Be Licensed Starting January 2026
The Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet has reminded all businesses selling tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products that they must be licensed by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) by January 1, 2026. The requirement stems from Senate Bill 100, signed into law by Governor Andy Beshear on March 24, 2025, aimed at strengthening youth protection and enforcing compliance against unlicensed sales.
Nov.17 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea’s Tobacco Law Amendment to Include Synthetic Nicotine, Projected to Add Up to $340 Million in Local Tax Revenue
South Korea’s Tobacco Law Amendment to Include Synthetic Nicotine, Projected to Add Up to $340 Million in Local Tax Revenue
Following the National Assembly’s approval of amendments to the Tobacco Business Act on September 22, redefining tobacco to include synthetic nicotine, the Korea Institute of Local Finance (KILF) estimates that local governments could gain between $37 million and $340 million in additional tax revenue in 2025 from tobacco consumption and local education taxes.
Nov.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report | After the Shortage: How the U.S. Vape Market Is Rebuilding Itself
Special Report | After the Shortage: How the U.S. Vape Market Is Rebuilding Itself
After a wave of regulatory crackdowns, the U.S. vaping market is undergoing a deep reshuffle — shortages sparked frenzy, and resupply triggered elimination. Through interviews with industry insiders from both China and the United States, 2Firsts reveals how the American market is rebuilding itself amid turbulence.
Nov.12
Kardinal to Launch Dual Open-System Devices Globally in Q1 2026
Kardinal to Launch Dual Open-System Devices Globally in Q1 2026
Kardinal OS and Syn Signal Strategic Expansion in Open-System ENDS
Dec.31