site.btaAnti-Illicit Trade Initiative: Illicit Cigarette Trade in Bulgaria Remains Low in 2021

The level of the illicit cigarette trade in Bulgaria remains low, according to a study of empty cigarette packs without a Bulgarian excise stamp. Illegal trade accounted for 2.5 and 2.4 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of 2021 respectively. The data were presented on Monday by the Anti-Illicit Trade Initiative to representatives of the Finance Ministry, the National Customs Agency, the eonomic police, the Directorate General for Combating Organized Crime, and the Economy Ministry, and were sent to BTA by Philip Morris Bulgaria. 

Tobacco companies said the Bulgarian institutions had achieved sustainable results in combating cigarette smuggling, and called for this commitment to remain as strong. Fourth quarter data show a minimum increase of only 0.1 per cent from the third quarter, and no change from the third quarter of 2020 in the share of illegal cigarette consumption. Once again in this reference period Bulgaria has the lowest share of the illegal cigarette market of the EU Member States in which this study is conducted.

The study of empty cigarette packs is useful because it acts as a barometer of the Customs inspectors' work, National Customs Agency Director Pavel Tonev said. The Customs Agency's results largely overlap with the findings of the study that on the whole, the quantity of seized cigarettes not intended for the local market decreased in 2021 from 2020, he added.

In 2021, some 31 million illegal cigarettes were seized, which is double the amount reported in 2020. Excise revenues from tobacco products increased by 65.5 million leva in 2021 from 2020.