Russia Proposes Stricter Penalties for Tobacco Smuggling

According to a report by Russian news outlet Aif, the Russian government has submitted a draft law to the State Duma, which outlines specific criminal provisions regarding the smuggling of tobacco and alcoholic beverages within the Eurasian Economic Union. The full text of the draft law has been made available in the electronic database of the State Duma.

According to this new revised edition, the magnitude of responsibility will depend on the illicitly transported goods. Currently, unauthorized cross-border transportation of alcohol and tobacco will be subjected to a fine of up to one million rubles, five years of forced labor, or a maximum of five years imprisonment.

The drafters of the bill assert that the aforementioned provision (200.2) has become ineffective. Simultaneously, they need to expand the new version of section 226.1 to encompass smuggling in the aforementioned categories.

The statement mentions that once the bill is enacted, individuals involved in the smuggling of tobacco and alcohol products will be held criminally liable under Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

According to the drafters of the bill, alcohol and tobacco products have been included in the government's strategic list of essential commodities and resources.

According to Article 226.1, individuals involved in smuggling of these goods will face a maximum prison sentence of seven years, along with a fine of up to one million rubles.