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Illegal cigarettes up in smoke under tough new campaign

Law enforcement agencies in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho Friday destroyed more than 200,000 packs of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes in the battle against the illicit tobacco trade in Vietnam.

The burnt cigarettes, worth over VND1 billion (US$62,309) and bearing the Jet and Hero brand names, came under the radar to be confiscated since last October. The two brands make up some 91 percent of the illegal cigarettes discovered in Vietnam in recent times. The move is part of the ongoing campaign approved by the Government to destroy smuggled cigarettes of all kinds and to establish the Industry Al­liance Reserve to support the fight against illicit cigarettes, said the to­bacco association. "The policy of destroying illicit ciga­rettes and establishing the Industry Al­liance Reserve has been a break­through, enabling businesses to join hands with the Government to clear the local market of illegal cigarettes," said Pham Kien Nghiep, secretary general of the Vietnam Tobacco Association. Since early this year, cities and provinces have destroyed illicit cigarettes in large quantities, includ­ing Hanoi with nearly 38,000 packs, Quang Tri with 72,000, An Giang with 73,000 and Quang Ngai with 107,000 packs. Over the past two months, the illicit trade showed little sign of abating along the border line in Long An, An Giang and Quang Tri provinces. In response, local authorities said that next month, task forces in Can Tho and An Giang would inspect local cigarette retail­ers and act accordingly against those selling cigarettes without legitimate stamps and seals. The budget for supporting the fight against illicit cigarettes in 2007 is VND35 billion (US$2.19 million), contributed by members of the Vietnam Tobacco As­sociation. Source: Tuoi Tre, Nguoi Lao Dong, SGT – Compiled by Thu Thuy