Laws Against Illegal Tobacco Trafficking Reinforced in South Africa

Source from:  Prensa Latina  04/25/2014

South African government confirmed today a redouble of sanctions against illegal cigar or cigarette trafficking, in a multi-departmental effort to counter this crime in the region.

New sanctions include a fine of one thousand 800 dollars or three times the value of confiscated property to over five years of prison, indicated a statement from the National Prosecuting Office, signed by the Ministry of Police and the Tobacco Institute.

These authorities explained that sale prices below the standard market can indicate irregularities in the payment of taxes, so as the lack of the embossed seal or health warnings.

In addition, the report indicates that if the package of cigarettes does not have indications on the level of nicotine or a phone number (smokers' helpline) it will also be considered an illegal product, with its respective penalties.

According to ministry data, about eight million packages of illegal cigarettes were sold in South Africa in 2013, at a cost to the government of nearly 470 million dollars in terms of lost profits.

One out of four available cigarettes in the domestic market is illicit, according to journalistic inquiries- uncorroborated by official sources- which point to a huge network of smuggling in several neighboring countries.

Police experts affirm that profit levels are huge and the movement of these products is very difficult to detect. Enditem