STMA: Commendation and Encouragement for National Tobacco Counterfeit Crackdown Work

In order to commend advanced efforts and boost morale in the fight against counterfeiting and smuggling in the tobacco industry, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a circular on December 3, praising the successful crackdown on 72 major cases, including the "5.11" illegal operation case in Xiaogan City, Hubei Province, as well as 1027 significant cases and the launch of 44 special operations.

The report pointed out that in recent years, tobacco monopoly bureaus at all levels have earnestly implemented the national bureau's anti-counterfeiting and anti-smuggling work deployment, continuously strengthening and improving the system of "government leadership, departmental collaboration, multi-party participation, and close cooperation" in anti-counterfeiting and anti-smuggling. They have continued to deepen cross-regional cooperation mechanisms, accelerate the construction of a national anti-counterfeiting and anti-smuggling strategy, and together with relevant departments, have carried out various special operations. They have fully played the role of intelligence gathering and investigation in combating maritime smuggling, domestic and foreign counterfeit production, illegal operation of raw materials, counterfeit cigarette transportation and distribution, and advancing source governance in key areas, achieving solid results and effectively safeguarding national interests and consumer interests.

According to a report, from July 2023 to June 2024, a total of 11,517 cases involving counterfeit cigarettes worth more than 50,000 yuan were investigated nationwide. 35.1 million counterfeit cigarettes, 1.8 million tons of tobacco leaves, 22.34 million e-cigarette products were seized, 313 counterfeiting cigarette machines were confiscated, 15,709 people were detained, 8,767 people were held criminally responsible, severely cracking down on illegal activities related to tobacco.

The notice emphasizes that the current situation of cracking down on counterfeiting and smuggling of tobacco products nationwide remains severe and complex. Faced with the enormous pressure of domestic and foreign counterfeit production and maritime smuggling activities dispersed in multiple areas, tobacco authorities at all levels must fully recognize the long-term, arduous, and complex nature of the work of cracking down on counterfeiting and smuggling of tobacco products. They should closely follow new changes, characteristics, and trends, firmly grasp their responsibilities and missions, boldly take on responsibilities, actively explore and innovate, adapt to changes, deepen cross-regional cooperation among multiple departments, establish and improve a joint long-term mechanism for combating crime, and consolidate the collective efforts to combat crime. They should learn from and draw inspiration from units that have been praised for their handling efficiency, methods, and work ethic, strengthen the analysis and judgment of tobacco-related information, continuously improve the quality and level of case investigation and handling, decisively curb the resurgence and spread of counterfeiting and smuggling, effectively safeguard national fiscal revenue and economic security, and make greater contributions to the high-quality development and modernization of the industry.