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.

Breaking News | China’s Premier Li Qiang Issues Rare Directive to Crack Down on Illicit Tobacco Activities
Breaking News | China’s Premier Li Qiang Issues Rare Directive to Crack Down on Illicit Tobacco Activities
Based on combined reporting from Xinhua and Xinwen Lianbo, 2Firsts reports that Chinese Premier Li Qiang has issued a rare directive at a State Council executive meeting to launch comprehensive, full-chain enforcement against illicit tobacco activities.
News
Dec.05
BAT accused of “utter hypocrisy” over efforts to dilute Zambia’s tobacco bill
BAT accused of “utter hypocrisy” over efforts to dilute Zambia’s tobacco bill
The Guardian reports that British American Tobacco urged Zambian ministers to drop or delay ad and sponsorship bans and to soften a draft tobacco bill by shrinking health warnings, easing flavour restrictions and lowering penalties. Critics said the stance is hypocritical given similar rules apply in the UK.
Nov.13
VCU Tests Nearly 1,300 School-Confiscated Vapes, Finding Mislabeling, Mixed Cannabinoids and Contamination
VCU Tests Nearly 1,300 School-Confiscated Vapes, Finding Mislabeling, Mixed Cannabinoids and Contamination
New research from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) found microbial contamination — including coliform, a bacteria indicating fecal exposure — in some vaping devices confiscated from U.S. schools. However, researchers stressed that newly purchased, unopened vapes showed no such contamination. The findings point to risks linked to unregulated products and improper storage conditions, reinforcing the importance of regulated supply chains and product authentication.
News
Dec.01
IMiracle  Announces 2025 R&D Progress with Over 2,200 Patent Applications Worldwide
IMiracle Announces 2025 R&D Progress with Over 2,200 Patent Applications Worldwide
IMiracle announces significant R&D progress in 2025, with over 2,200 patent applications globally and 900 authorized patents.
Dec.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea National Assembly Approves Bill to Regulate E-Cigarettes Under Tobacco Law After Nine Years of Debate
South Korea National Assembly Approves Bill to Regulate E-Cigarettes Under Tobacco Law After Nine Years of Debate
South Korea’s National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed a long-debated amendment to the Tobacco Business Act on November 26, expanding the legal definition of tobacco to include synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes. The amendment aims to end the regulatory blind spot surrounding such products while ensuring transitional support for vape retailers and a grace period for compliance.
Nov.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philippines’ DTI Proposes Mandatory Advertising Permits for Vape Products
Philippines’ DTI Proposes Mandatory Advertising Permits for Vape Products
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released a draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) seeking public feedback on a new permitting system for advertising and promoting vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products.
Dec.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai