EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport

However, Latvia is still in first place in Europe in the proportion of contraband cigarettes smoked.

When compared to 2013, the proportion of contraband cigarettes smoked in Latvia is down by one percentage points, but when compared to 2010, when the proportion of contraband cigarettes smoked in the country reached 44.6%, the proportion has reduced by over 10%age points.

According to the survey, 66.8% of the contraband cigarettes smuggled into the country come from Belarus, while 29.8% from Russia.

The study also reveals that 62.4% of the cigarettes smoked in Daugavpils are contraband, 45.2% in Livani, 42% in Ludza, as well as 38.5% in Ventspils.

The volume of smuggled cigarettes from Belarus has doubled since 2011, while from Russia there has been a three-fold reduction. The main factor is the difference in price – in Belarus the average price for a pack of cigarettes is EUR 0.64, in Russia EUR 1.31, but in Latvia – EUR 2.6.