Illegal imports of tobacco and cigarettes mainly through land borders with Laos and Cambodia were steadily increasing, according to figures from market research firm ACNielsen and the central steering committee responsible for combating contraband, fake goods, and trade fraud.

Authorities estimate around 730 million packets of cigarettes will be seized this year.

In 2007 there were 5,800 cases of tobacco trafficking and authorities confiscated 636 million packets of cigarettes, a jump from 600 million seized in 2006.

Contraband tobacco accounts for nearly 40 percent of the market share.

The association chairman Nguyen Thai Sinh said Jet and Hero brands, from the Indonesia-based Sumatra Tobacco Trading Company, accounted for more than 90 percent of the smuggled tobacco products.

Both brands are heavily consumed in HCMC and southern provinces.

Sinh said the increase in tobacco smuggling could push about 13,000 Vietnamese tobacco farmers to the brink of unemployment this year.

Last year, the association allotted VND14 billion ($868,000) to combat tobacco smuggling, but only spent VND5 billion ($310,000).

Sinh said the Ministry of Finance should give clear instructions to finance departments in all the provinces and cities to spend the budget more effectively.

A new tobacco smuggling telephone hotline run by the Vietnam Tobacco Association and contraband central steering committee started this month.

Source: TN, LD