Russian Authorities Bust Organized Tobacco Counterfeiting Group

Nov.24.2022
Russian Authorities Bust Organized Tobacco Counterfeiting Group
Organized group selling untaxed tobacco products discovered in Chechnya, Russia; four suspects under investigation.

The source of the images from the scene where smugglers were caught is the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.


According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, an organized group has been identified as participating in the supply and sale of counterfeit tobacco products in the Chuvash Republic during operations and investigations by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. These unmarked products were sold in electronic cigarette packaging through retail stores, unrelated to mandatory labeling of goods. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Chuvash Republic has initiated criminal proceedings against four defendants (including a Ukrainian and residents of the Kozlovsky and Batareivsky districts and Cheboksary), under Part 6 of Article 171.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, for the sale of mass quantities of unmarked goods and products, including over 120,000 packs of cigarettes worth more than 13 million rubles (approximately 1.53 million yuan). The investigation into the criminal case is currently ongoing.


Statement:


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


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the content. The translation of this article is solely for industry-related exchange and research purposes.


Due to limitations in translation ability, the translated article may not fully reflect the original wording. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign-related statements and positions.


The copyright for compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to request 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.

Kentucky to issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor retailers who applied before Jan. 1, 2026
Kentucky to issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor retailers who applied before Jan. 1, 2026
Kentucky will issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor product retailers that applied for a license with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) before Jan. 1, 2026.
Dec.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai
European survey: current e-cigarette use among 15–19-year-olds rises from 14% (2019) to 22% (2024)
European survey: current e-cigarette use among 15–19-year-olds rises from 14% (2019) to 22% (2024)
A European study cited in the report says the share of young people aged 15 to 19 who are current e-cigarette users increased from 14% in 2019 to 22% in 2024, with Italy reflecting the broader European pattern. Over the same period, conventional cigarette smoking among young people is described as declining, with the proportion of students who have smoked at least once in their lifetime falling sharply from 1995 to 2024, and the largest drop occurring between 2019 and 2024.
Feb.12 by 2FIRSTS.ai
RJ Reynolds asks ITC to investigate alleged vape restriction violations by Heaven Gifts network
RJ Reynolds asks ITC to investigate alleged vape restriction violations by Heaven Gifts network
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. has asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to open a Section 337 investigation into Heaven Gifts International — the umbrella company behind Elf Bars and Geek Bars — its subsidiaries and nine U.S. distributors.
Jan.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia moves ahead with vape sales ban plan; PMI urges Japan-style differentiated excise taxes
Malaysia moves ahead with vape sales ban plan; PMI urges Japan-style differentiated excise taxes
Malaysia plans to implement a ban or restrictions on e-cigarettes and vaping products as early as mid-2026 and no later than year-end. The head of Philip Morris Malaysia and Singapore said the government should look to Japan’s approach of regulating and taxing different tobacco and nicotine products differently, warning that an outright ban could push demand into illicit channels.
Feb.02
West Virginia Bill Seeks to Replace Per-mL Vape Liquid Tax With 50% Sales-Price Tax
West Virginia Bill Seeks to Replace Per-mL Vape Liquid Tax With 50% Sales-Price Tax
West Virginia proposes tax rate adjustments on e-cigarette devices and e-liquids, with penalties for late reporting. Effective from July 1, 2026.
Feb.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Nicotine pouch brand SNÜ launches three fruit flavours, keeps “rub-and-smell” label to reduce retail shrink
Nicotine pouch brand SNÜ launches three fruit flavours, keeps “rub-and-smell” label to reduce retail shrink
UK nicotine pouch brand SNÜ has added three new flavours—Wild Cherry, Cherry Cola and Tropical Punch—spanning multiple nicotine strengths from 9mg to 60mg. The new products also retain the brand’s “rub-and-smell” packaging feature, designed to let shoppers preview the aroma without opening the can and help lower in-store product loss.
Feb.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai