The government is cracking down on smuggled cigarettes.

Government Decree 124/2015 increases administrative penalties for the trading, storing, and transporting of smuggled cigarettes and reduces the amount of confiscated goods for criminal prosecution by three times.

The government has recently issued Decree No. 124/2015/ND-CP (Decree 124) amending and supplementing several articles of Decree 185/2013/ND-CP dated November 15, 2013. In particular, the penalties for violations related to smuggled cigarettes are stricter than before; the quantity of smuggled cigarettes subject to criminal prosecution has been reduced by up to three times.

Smuggling 500 bags: May result in criminal prosecution.

According to Article 25 of Decree 124, for the act of trading in prohibited goods, specifically smuggled cigarettes in quantities of 500 packs or more, the competent authority handling the case must immediately transfer the case file to the prosecuting authority for consideration of criminal prosecution in accordance with Article 62 of the Law on Handling Administrative Violations. If the prosecuting authority decides not to initiate criminal proceedings, the violator will be fined from VND 70 million to VND 100 million. Furthermore, Decree 124 also stipulates that the authorities have the right to confiscate the means of transport used to transport smuggled tobacco raw materials if the seized goods amount to 2,000 kg or more (Clause 4, Point b, Article 26 of Decree 124).

Authorities are cracking down hard on the problem of smuggled cigarettes. Photo: CTV

Thus, compared to the old regulation (185/2013), Decree 124 imposes much harsher penalties, reducing the quantity of smuggled cigarettes from 1,500 packs to 500 packs for criminal prosecution. Individuals involved in trading, transporting, or possessing 500 packs of smuggled cigarettes can face up to 15 years in prison.

Furthermore, under current law, retailers selling smuggled cigarettes may face criminal prosecution if they re-offend within the validity period of their administrative penalty decision or if their criminal record for this offense has not been expunged.

For violations involving fewer than 500 packs of smuggled cigarettes, the average fine is 100,000 VND per pack of smuggled cigarettes.

The immeasurable harm of smuggled Jet and Hero cigarettes.

According to authorities, smuggling, illegal transportation, and trading of smuggled cigarettes, especially Jet and Hero brands, are widespread and complex throughout the country. Cigarette smugglers are aggressive, reckless, and willing to resist law enforcement when detected or obstructed.

Moreover, the smuggling of Jet and Hero cigarettes is organized into tightly knit and sophisticated networks, with a division of labor and even collusion between the "ringleaders" and shop owners in the country.

Currently, smuggled Jet and Hero cigarettes account for up to 20% of the total cigarette market in Vietnam, causing a loss of up to 8,000 billion VND in state revenue and resulting in the loss of 5 million agricultural jobs annually.

The smuggled Jet and Hero cigarettes contain many harmful substances exceeding permissible levels, affecting men's reproductive health. According to research by the Institute of Tobacco Economics and Technology, these two types of smuggled cigarettes also contain Coumarin (a toxic component in rat poison) and many other harmful substances, causing a serious reduction in sperm count and motility, leading to infertility.

Since the beginning of 2014, the National Assembly and the Prime Minister have made many strong decisions to prevent the smuggling of cigarettes. With the promulgation of Decree 124, which increases penalties for the trading, storage, and transportation of smuggled cigarettes, as well as enhanced inspection and enforcement activities, the problem of smuggled cigarettes will be pushed back in the near future.

According to phapluattp.vn