HELSINKI: The Finnish language daily Savon Sanomat reported that The Finnish Customs fears that the planned increase in tobacco taxation as entered in the recently drafted government program will increase smuggling of tobacco.
The current regulation allows bringing in a limited amount of tobacco products for personal use. Lasse Ryyttäri, a senior inspector at customs, expressed concern that increase in taxation could lead to a situation whereby tobacco products would be imported for purposes other than personal use.
The increase in tobacco price, according to Ryyttäri, may lead to importation of large quantities of tobacco products from cheaper destinations such as Russia and Estonia.
