Government plan to fight illegal cigarettes and tobacco smuggling

Cigarettes and tobacco made up 350 tons of illegally smuggled products entering France last year

Budget Minister, Valérie Pécresse announced the measures this morning which in a nutshell propose stricter security between French borders and among members of the GIR (Group d’Intervention Régionale) police. As of today, the plan aims to target the illegal smuggling of tobacco and cigarettes between rail and road networks and via the internet, with the reinforcement of security strategies between countries.

With more than 350 tons of products illegally smuggled in 2010, Madame Pécresse hopes the new laws will “ensure that at least 15 per cent more of illegally purchased tobacco and cigarettes will be brought to the attention of officials compared to 2010.”

Combined with a proposed 6 per cent rise in cigarette prices from 3rd October 2011 and a further 6 per cent by mid-2012, these anti-black market measures also tie in with recent budget-saving strategies to cut 12 billion euro from the country’s deficit by the end of 2012.

Sarah Lloyd