Romania’s National Fiscal Administration Agency (ANAF) started on February 5 an operation called Scut 2017 (Shield 2017) aimed at reducing cigarette smuggling.

The operation includes more thorough border controls, as well as controls in markets and in traffic to fight cigarette smuggling. The tax agency will also carry out controls with canine teams.

At the end of January, ANAF’s president Bogdan - Nicolae Stan has ordered a control on the activity of the General Customs Directorate and the regional customs departments in the last year, to identify the causes that have led to increased cigarette smuggling.

The illegal cigarettes market reached an average level of 16.8% last year, up compared to the annual average in 2015. The level from 2016 represents the highest annual level since 2011, according to recent data published by the consultancy Novel Research. This translates into some EUR 670 million losses for the state budget, according to local cigarette producers.

The tax agency ANAF aims to reach a contraband level close to 10%, which is the EU average.

editor@romania-insider.com