Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport

According to the study that was conducted in October 2014 in different Estonian towns, the amount of consumed contraband is highest in the North Estonian border areas in Narva (40.5%), Sillamäe (40%), Kohtla-Järve (38%) and Jõhvi (36%) and in South East border town Valga (35.7%).

The vast majority of the cigarettes without tax stamps continue to come from Russia (48.4%), followed by Byelorussia (30.4%) and duty-free cigarettes (15%).

"Due to imposed excise restrictions and more efficient customs control, the number of contraband cigarettes brought across the border has significantly decreased. While the Tax and Customs Board analysis indicated that in 2012, 247.6 million and in 2013, 36.8 million contraband cigarettes were brought across the Eastern border, then last year the number of smuggled cigarettes decreased to 13 million," said the Tax and Customs Board customs management unit head Urmas Koidu.

Independent market research firm Nielsen compiles its study twice a year. The latest survey was conducted in 14 towns in Estonia, and a total of 3,300 cigarette packs were collected. The methodology is approved by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), and the four largest tobacco manufacturers: British American Tobacco, Imperial Tobacco Limited, Japan Tobacco International, Philip Morris International, participated in financing the study.