Millions of illegal cigarettes seized by Russian customs.

Nov.24.2022
Millions of illegal cigarettes seized by Russian customs.
Russian customs seized 2.3 million packs of untaxed cigarettes worth 260 million rubles from Belarus.

On November 21st, according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, employees at the Smolensk Customs seized approximately 2.3 million packs of untaxed cigarettes being illegally transported from Belarus to Russia. The value of the goods is estimated to be 260 million rubles (about 30 million yuan).


The shipment was transported by three trucks to a company near Moscow, according to the customs documents, the cargo consisted of plastic trays. During inspection, customs officials found tobacco products of four Belarusian cigarette brands in the cargo hold, without the required documents from the carrier. It was also discovered that the vehicles had fake license plates. The transportation of unmarked goods and products is a criminal offense under Article 171.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, with the first clause stipulating criminal liability for the illegal importation of tobacco products on a large scale across the customs border.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry exchange and learning.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the veracity 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 abilities, the translated article may not fully express the same meaning as the original. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS aligns completely with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign-related statements and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author. 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.

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
Iowa House says governor’s tobacco and vape tax hikes are in a “holding pattern”
Iowa House says governor’s tobacco and vape tax hikes are in a “holding pattern”
Radio Iowa reported that House Speaker Pat Grassley said House Republicans are wrestling with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to raise Iowa’s tax on tobacco products and impose a new 15% sales tax on vaping products. Grassley said the idea is in a “holding pattern,” noting it does not align neatly with recent Republican moves to cut income taxes, and that House Republicans already removed the proposed tax increase from the governor’s MAHA bill.
Feb.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
China’s tobacco regulator names Yao Laiying as top leader
China’s tobacco regulator names Yao Laiying as top leader
China’s tobacco regulator has undergone a top leadership change, according to an official announcement on March 20.
Mar.20
Product | Labeled “Built in the USA” Up to 60,000 Puffs: DOJO PUREX 60K Launches on U.S. Sales Channels
Product | Labeled “Built in the USA” Up to 60,000 Puffs: DOJO PUREX 60K Launches on U.S. Sales Channels
DOJO unveiled the PUREX 60K e-cigarette at TPE 2026 held in Las Vegas, United States. The product is labeled “Built in the USA,” supports up to 60,000 puffs, and features 16ml e-liquid capacity, a 1000mAh battery, and ECO and SMART output modes. It has gone live on DOJO’s official website and select U.S. online sales channels at a price of $18.99.
Apr.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
PMI Launches Mass Production of ZYN at $600M Aurora Manufacturing Hub
PMI Launches Mass Production of ZYN at $600M Aurora Manufacturing Hub
Philip Morris International (PMI), through its subsidiary Swedish Match, has started large-scale production at a 600,000-square-foot ZYN nicotine pouch facility in Aurora, Colorado. The $600 million investment makes the site one of three ZYN manufacturing plants in the United States and the company’s second U.S. facility after Owensboro, Kentucky.
PMI
Feb.21
Study Says Europe’s Illicit Disposable Vape Market to Reach EUR 6.6 Billion in 2026
Study Says Europe’s Illicit Disposable Vape Market to Reach EUR 6.6 Billion in 2026
A new study by the Fraunhofer Institute says the rapidly expanding illicit market for disposable e-cigarettes is undermining European regulation, fuelling youth vaping and causing significant tax losses. The study says the illicit market is worth EUR 6.6 billion in 2026 and is projected to rise to EUR 10.8 billion by 2030. It adds that a significant share of the disposable vape market now operates outside the regulatory framework established by the EU Tobacco Products Directive.
Mar.13 by 2FIRSTS.ai