The black market of cigarettes in Romania therefore shrank by about 30% on the year-ago period, when more than 61 million contraband cigarettes were seized, according to the same source.
The black market of cigarettes remains below 8% of consumption in the first half, relatively flat compared with the beginning of the year, Novel Research data show.
“In 2021, amid the decline of the black market of cigarettes, BAT paid some RON1.25 billion more to the state budget compared with the previous year or almost RON11 billion via excise duties and taxes,” says Ileana Dumitru, Legal and External Affairs Director, Central Europe South Area with BAT.
The biggest volume of cigarettes was seized in Constanta County (more than 15 million), Valcea (more than 11 million) and Suceava (almost 3 million).
The authorities also found two illegal cigarette plants in Neamt and Buzau Counties where they seized almost 21 tons of tobacco.
The campaign is developed in partnership with the Romanian Police, the Romanian Border Police, the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and the General Customs Directorate.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)