OREANDA-NEWS. The illegal turnover of cigarettes is almost non-existent in Belarus, Alexander Valiyev of Belarus’ State Customs Committee told a press-conference.

The chief of the Customs Committee’s Tariff Department reminded that members of the Customs Union had agreed to raise tobacco excises.

According to Valiyev, the CU states are expected to raise and synchronize their domestic rates of the excise tax on tobacco goods.

Varying levels of tobacco excises and cigarette prices in the Customs Union would provoke tobacco smuggling. In the meantime, the illegal turnover of cigarettes is almost non-existent in Belarus, Valiyev informed with reference to a study performed by the World Health Organization.

Belarusian customs officers seized 43 million cigarettes smuggled across the border in 2012. Tobacco smugglers usually use old cars and vans to do their illegal business in order to reduce their losses, if the vehicle and the cargo get confiscated, Valiyev informed.