On the morning of March 25, 2021, Department of Public Security of Khanh Hoa province coordinated with the Market Surveillance Department of Khanh Hoa Province, 389 Provincial Steering Committee, Vietnam Tobacco Association and relevant departments to destroy 85,000 packs of smuggled cigarette at Luong Hoa landfill, Vinh Luong commune, Nha Trang city.
The smuggled cigarettes branded: JET, 555, Hero, Esse, Caraven, Rich Mond, Lotus, Black Owl, Sea 99 … were confiscated by the authorities during the time from 2012 to 2020 in the area of Khanh Hoa province. In which, 50,000 packs were confiscated by the police and 35,000 packs were confiscated by the Market Surveillance Department of Khanh Hoa province.
Smuggled cigarettes are confiscated by the Market Surveillance Department of Khanh Hoa Province.
Smuggled cigarettes are confiscated by the police of Khanh Hoa province.
The smuggled cigarettes were destroyed in accordance with the Government’s regulation in order to protect the health and the benefits of consumers as well as the legitimate rights and benefits of manufacturers and businesses. The illegal cigarette destruction also aims at educating and deterring individuals and organizations from doing illegal business, injuring people’s health, rights and benefits of the businesses.
Smuggled cigarettes are destroyed at Luong Hoa landfill, Vinh Luong commune, Nha Trang city.
Cigarette belongs to the group of goods which is restricted from trading by the Government. Cigarette manufacturers and traders must have cigarette manufacturing and trading licenses and must pay taxes on their products. Cigarette manufacture and business are strictly controlled by the Government. The products must have tax stamps, labels, word and picture health warnings.
In order to heighten the sanctions on trading, transporting and storing illegal cigarettes, the Government has issued Decree No. 98/2020/ND-CP prescribing penalties for administrative violations against regulations on commerce, production and trade in counterfeit and prohibited goods and protection of consumer rights which takes effect from October 15, 2020. The fine levels are much higher than before. According to the Decree, an individual trading, transporting, storing and delivering smuggled cigarettes with quantity of less than 50 packs shall be fined from VND 1 million to 03 million. The maximum fine level from VND 90 to 100 million is imposed on act of trading, transporting, storing and delivering smuggled cigarettes with the quantity of 1,500 packs or more. An repeat offence with the quantity of 1,500 packs or more will be prosecuted under Articles 190 and 191 of the Criminal Code of Vietnam issued in 2015, amended and added in 2017.
This Decree expresses the Government’s determination of preventing and fighting against smuggled cigarettes. It is also a warning to cigarette retailers and smokers not to abet cigarette smugglers.
