Posting posters warning about smuggled cigarettes in 17 provinces

Recently, the Market Management Department has directed the Market Management Sub-Departments of 17 provinces and cities to coordinate with the Vietnam Tobacco Association to post posters warning about violations in the trading and transportation of smuggled cigarettes from July 1 to August 30. The posters will be posted in public areas, restaurants, bars, agencies, medicine cabinets, etc.

The 17 provinces and cities include: Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho City, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, An Giang and Dong Thap.

The poster warns people that if they violate the law in trading and transporting smuggled cigarettes, they will be imprisoned for up to 15 years. According to regulations, smuggled cigarettes such as Jet, Hero... are considered prohibited goods. Trading, transporting, and storing from 1,500 to less than 4,500 packs of these cigarettes will be punished with imprisonment from six months to three years; from 4,500 to less than 13,500 packs will be prosecuted for criminal responsibility, imprisoned for three to seven years; from 13,500 packs or more will be punished with imprisonment from 7 to 15 years.

Mr. Do Thanh Lam, Deputy Director of the Market Management Department, said that anti-cigarette smuggling propaganda posters with the content "Cigarette smuggling: Imprisonment up to 15 years" have been posted in 17 provinces and cities across the country.

This is an annual activity of the Market Management Department with the aim of propagating and warning people about the harmful effects of trading and trading in smuggled cigarettes. Since the beginning of 2013, nearly 100 cigarette smugglers have been criminally prosecuted and imprisoned.

Mr. Lam emphasized: In the coming time, the Market Management Department will direct the Market Management force nationwide to strengthen control of the domestic market. Review business households, enterprises, organizations, individuals trading in tobacco, gathering, storing, and wholesaling points of tobacco to collect information, grasp the situation to better inspect and handle violations in the tobacco business. Strictly handle subjects trading in smuggled, fake, and poor-quality cigarettes.

According to NDDT