Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Based on operational information, law enforcement agencies seized a large shipment of illegal cigarettes. According to Azizbek Rahmatov, inspector of the regional customs department, a total of 180,000 cigarettes of two types worth 90 million soums were found.

It should be noted that over the past seven months of this year, 29 cases were registered in the Customs Department of Ferghana region, where 3,471,400 smuggled cigarettes were confiscated for a total of 1.42 billion soums.

Cigarette smuggling has been on the rise in recent years. It is estimated that its level is already so high that for unpaid taxes from illegal cigarettes, the state could provide access to clean water to 2.5 million people (2500 small villages).

Smuggling can only be defeated by taking tough measures against suppliers and sellers who sell illegal products. Therefore, since June 2022, liability for the trade in illegal tobacco products has been tightened. The illegal sale of tobacco products is now subject to a fine of 50 times the BFS or more, in addition to product confiscation.

For repeated violations or illegal transactions in a significant amount, the following provisions are provided:

- criminal liability and a fine of 54 million soums

- corrective work

- imprisonment or restriction of freedom from 2 to 5 years

Is a small profit from one illegal pack of your business and freedom worth it?