Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies, Shadow economy, Transport

Smuggled cigarettes accounted for 19.6% of the total tobacco consumption in the country in the fourth quarter of 2015, down from 28.4% a year ago, the National Association of Tobacco Producers (NATP), said in a press release on Tuesday.

The share of illegal cigarettes remained basically stable compared with the second and third quarters of this year.

According to Ramunas Macius, executive secretary at the NATP, the authorities must be always on the lookout for new ways to combat smuggling.

"By joining forces, the illegal cigarette market has been brought down to record lows since 2010. Surveys show that the amount of illegally sold cigarettes remained stable this year. However, smugglers modernize themselves at a fast rate and find ways to circumvent the system. Therefore, (anti-smuggling efforts) cannot be stopped," he said in the press release.

The largest number of illegal tobacco products, at 79.5%, this year comes to Lithuania from Belarus.

Nielsen conducted the survey for four tobacco companies in 20 Lithuanian cities and towns in October 2015. The survey did not cover rural areas.