Belarus'' Border Service, JTI to Cooperate in Combating Cigarette Smuggling

Source from:  News of Belarus 10/15/2013

The State Border Committee of Belarus and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) signed a memorandum of understanding. This document provides a framework for cooperation between the State Border Committee and JTI in combating all forms of trafficking and illicit trade in tobacco products, including the prevention of cross-border trade in counterfeit tobacco products, BelTA learned.

Under the memorandum, the Parties shall appoint liaison representatives and establish regular exchange of information on movement of cigarettes with the JTI brand. JTI shall assist in the training of border service officers on how to identify counterfeit tobacco products.

"The signing of the memorandum with the State Border Committee is another step of our company to establish a common front to combat illegal trafficking of tobacco products in the country," said JTI General Manager in Belarus Konstantin Fyodorov. Based on similar agreements, JTI cooperates efficiently with the State Customs Committee and the Interior Ministry. The parties regularly share information and implement a number of joint projects such as the provision of grant assistance to improve the technical capacity of law enforcement agencies, international seminars and practical training sessions.

According to the company's representative, only the combined efforts of the government and business in the fight against tobacco smuggling can give tangible results.

Japan Tobacco International has been on the Belarusian market since 1998 and is a structural division of Japan Tobacco Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of tobacco products in the world. Enditem