Russia's Illegal Tobacco Sales Cause Billions in Losses

Feb.17.2023
Russia's Illegal Tobacco Sales Cause Billions in Losses
A study by ANO reveals that St. Petersburg will lose 2 billion rubles due to illegal tobacco sales in 2022.

According to a study conducted by ANO (Russia's National Research Center for the Study of the Capacity to Combat the Illegal Trafficking of Industrial Products), St. Petersburg is expected to lose 2 billion rubles ($18.3 million) by 2022 due to the sale of illegal tobacco products. Currently, the average level of illegal tobacco sales in Russia is around 12%. Smuggled cigarettes imported into Russia from the Eurasian Economic Union, particularly those from Belarus, have the highest proportion in illegal sales, reaching 88.4%.


References:


St. Petersburg has lost 2 billion rubles due to counterfeit cigarettes.


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.

Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Thai police raided an illegal e-cigarette warehouse, arrested a man accused of selling vapes online, and seized a large quantity of improperly imported products worth more than 4 million baht (about $112,000).
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
NASCAR adds nicotine pouch sponsor Grizzly as official partner; zone renews RCR deal for 2026
NASCAR adds nicotine pouch sponsor Grizzly as official partner; zone renews RCR deal for 2026
NASCAR Holdings has struck a partnership with Grizzly, a nicotine pouch brand under Reynolds American, making it an official sponsor across NASCAR and its track portfolio, with financial terms undisclosed. Separately, zone, a nicotine pouch brand owned by Imperial Brands’ U.S. subsidiary ITG Brands, renewed its relationship with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and will continue sponsoring Kyle Busch’s No. 8 car during the 2026 season.
Jan.26
South Korea Formalizes Harmful Substance Controls for Cigarettes and E-cigarettes
South Korea Formalizes Harmful Substance Controls for Cigarettes and E-cigarettes
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has issued a notice establishing testing items and methods for harmful substances in tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Dec.18 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russia’s Volgograd Police Seize Illicit Nicotine Products Worth Over US$42.9K+
Russia’s Volgograd Police Seize Illicit Nicotine Products Worth Over US$42.9K+
Police in Russia’s Volgograd region say they seized nicotine products lacking mandatory markings valued at more than RUB 3.3 million (about US$42,900+, using RUB 1 = US$0.013). A 43-year-old suspect allegedly stored and sold the products through two retail outlets in Volgograd’s Central and Dzerzhinsky districts. A criminal case has been opened under Article 171.1(6) of the Russian Criminal Code.
Jan.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korean Court Strikes Down Health Levy on Vape Nicotine Liquids, Citing Disproportionate Penalties
South Korean Court Strikes Down Health Levy on Vape Nicotine Liquids, Citing Disproportionate Penalties
A Seoul court has annulled South Korea’s health-levy assessments imposed on multiple importers of nicotine liquids used for vaping. While the court agreed the nicotine could be treated as “tobacco” because it was found to be leaf-derived, it ruled the levy—stacked with other taxes and calculated on a blunt, volume-only basis—was so severe it effectively deprived businesses of the ability to operate, breaching constitutional proportionality and equality standards.
Jan.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Morocco rolls out compulsory rules for e-cigarettes, muassel and nicotine pouches
Morocco rolls out compulsory rules for e-cigarettes, muassel and nicotine pouches
Starting February 2026, Morocco will apply its first mandatory standard governing “smoke-free” products—covering e-cigarettes, muassel and nicotine pouches. Drafted by IMANOR, the standard introduces detailed requirements on composition, labelling, traceability and safety, and will apply to imported products. Consumer advocates say clear labelling and traceability are essential, while urging stronger public-awareness efforts and resources.
Feb.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai