Almost every month, law enforcement officers of Ukraine report about delaying of alcohol and cigarettes smuggling from Moldova. However, in Ukraine the quantity of smuggled goods does not become less–“Privoz” in Odessa, which is one of the oldest and largest existing markets in Europe, is crowded with contraband cigarettes. They sell ​​it without checks and excise duties are questionable. Internet is full of proposals of Moldovan cigaretteswholesale. However, official data indicates that for more than two years Moldovacigarettesare not imported to Ukraine. However, traders are ready to sell illegal goodsby blocks, which prove the magnitude of the supply of smuggled goods. Moreover, contraband cigarettes are often produced in the Transnistria, registering a business in Moldova and Ukraine and ferrying, to the European Union as well. We were trying to understand where and how smuggled cigarettes come to Ukraine.

Smuggled cigarettes at “Privoz”

- Where can I buy Moldovan cigarettes? –I askedthe traders at the "Privoz".

- Now they are being chased, but ask around!

We go in rows. There used to sell cigarettes “from the floor", could even take a piece, although, according to a new Tax Code, all excisable goods should be sold only through the cash register. Now law enforcement officers often make raids atthe "Privoz", chase merchants of smuggled goods. But in some places you can still find old women, selling cigarettes directly "from hands".

However, for the smuggled goods at the "Privoz" are set the whole kiosks. We go to one of them:

- Can I buy cigarettes "Rich" (officially produced in Russia, but banned for import to Ukraine, according to the sanctions list, are often imported to the country from Transnistria, located in the orbit of Russian influence)?

- Yes, it is possible –replied the seller.

- Can I take a block? What’s the price?

- Of course you can!

On the shelves of tobacco shops there are many exotic cigarettes, which cannot be found in regular stores. Sellers are assured: you can buy a couple of blocks. Kiosks are not equipped with cash registers, the calculation is carried out for the cash, how they pay 5% -tax to local budgets is unknown.

In fact, trading Odessa was always "famous" for the flow of contraband goods from around the world. In modern times nothing has changed in this regard, since the Odessa region is a border, and the proximity to the unrecognized republic of Transnistria only contributes to the illegal movement of goods across the border.

The issue of sales of smuggled cigarettes is also easy to solve - at the "Privoz" you can sell and buy everything, as Odessa residentsjoke themselves. In late 2014 the Tax Code of Ukraine was changed - all excisable goods, so cigarettes as well,should be implemented through a cash register, and the tax on them –goes also to the local budgets. But at the "Privoz", despite often pressuresof law enforcement officers, cigarettes, as before, you can buy even "from hands". There are ​​cigarettes, that in Ukraine the official manufacturers do not produce - for example, the Moldovan "Astra", supposedly English cigarettes "Business Club", the Greek "Asmoloff" and many others.

Cigarettes bought at "Privoz"