ZHANJIANG: Chinese customs and tobacco authorities have destroyed 375,890 cartons of smuggled cigarettes worth $ 3.6 million in Zhanjiang city in southern province of Guangdong. The cigarettes were shredded before transported to a local power plant to be used as burning material.
The cigarettes were of more than 30 brands. Officials said that the destruction illustrated China’s firm stance in abiding by the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It also showed the country’s achievements in cracking down on the illegal trade of tobacco.
A senior customs official said that China has stepped up efforts in its fight against tobacco smuggling. He said that 34 smuggling cases were cracked nationwide last year that involved 1.84 billion cigarettes worth over $ 372 million.
He said cigarette smuggling would continue to exist due to its high profitability, but Chinese authorities would maintain a strict watch over it.
