Romania's cigarette black market dipped slightly in January 2024 to 7.7 percent of total consumption from 8.5 percent at the end of 2023, shows a survey by Novel Research."January's most substantial decrease in tobacco smuggling was in the Northeast, with a decline of 10.5 percentage points to 19.2 percent. However, this remains the region most affected by illegal cigarette trade. The only region to see a significant increase in the black market is the country south, with a rise by 4.1 percentage points to 10.4 percent. This increase is correlated with the emergence of Bulgaria as a source of smuggled cigarettes, starting last year," Novel Research managing partner Marian Marcu said in a release on Sunday.According to data on the StopContrabanda.ro platform cited by Ileana Dumitru, BAT Legal and External Affairs Director for South-East Europe, more than 10 million contraband cigarettes were captured by the authorities in the southern area since the beginning of this year. This is the largest amount of illicit cigarettes seized nationwide in the mentioned interval and reflects the growing trend of illicit traffic in tobacco products from the states south of Romania (Bulgaria, Turkey), where the price of cigarettes is significantly lower.Gilda Lazar, JTI Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications - Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria, pointed out that the budget execution for January 2024 shows a 48.1 percent annual increase in excise revenues on the back of the 91.4 percent higher revenues from excise duties on tobacco products - an exceptional situation, amid the increase since the beginning of the year - while revenues from excise duties on energy products remain in the negative realm.Dragos Bucurenci, Philip Morris Romania Director of External Affairs, welcomed the fact that 2024 begins with a decrease of approximately one percentage point in cigarette smuggling, after the upward trend taken towards the end of last year.According to the website of the Border Police, 2023 saw the largest amount of illicit cigarettes seized in the last five years, and compared to 2022, seizures were 40 percent higher. Thus, more than 5.5 million packs of cigarettes, almost 17 tons of tobacco and 31 tons of hookah tobacco were confiscated. Also, 3 organized criminal groups with 47 members were dismantled.Major taxpaying tobacco companies funnel every year about RON 20 billion to the state budget in excise duties, VAT and other taxes and contributions.
On Monday, January 13, officials at the Cantacuzino Hospital in Bucharest alerted police that a man stole three amputated legs from the storage area. While two were later found, the third is still missing. The incident took place three days prior, on January 10, and was captured by surveillance cameras. Images published by Euronews Romania […]
The General Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday, January 15, that criminal prosecution has been initiated again against former president Ion Iliescu and ex-prime minister Petre Roman in the case targeting the violent crackdown of the protests in Bucharest's University Square on June 13-15, 1990, also known as the Mineriada (miners' riot). The two are facing […]
Approximately 62% of employees in Romania intend to change their workplace in the next six months largely due to financial reasons, according to a survey conducted by the online recruitment platform Bestjobs. Approximately 48% of respondents intend to change their workplace because they want a better salary, 13% due to a lack of professional development […]
Roborock, a global leader in intelligent cleaning solutions, announces the launch of its latest innovation, the Roborock Qrevo Curv, a state-of-the-art robot vacuum and mop designed to redefine home cleaning. This revolutionary product combines cutting-edge technology with an innovative cleaning system to offer an unparalleled cleaning experience for consumers. "Roborock Qrevo Curv represents a new […]
Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan announced that his administration will draw inspiration from the Icelandic model to combat and prevent drug use among young people. The mayor also stated that building a medical facility dedicated to those struggling with addiction is being considered, using spaces belonging to Colentina or Obregia hospitals. “As Bucharest residents decided through a […]
A young deer trapped in the icy waters of a pond near Fălticeni, Suceava county, was recently saved by a team of firefighters. According to the Emergency Situations Inspectorate, which shared a short video of the rescue mission, the fawn had attempted to cross the frozen pond, but the thin ice cracked beneath its weight, […]
