Illegal Cigarettes Found in Hull

More than 60,000 illicit cigarettes bound for the UK have been seized by border officials at Port of Hull. Officers from Border Force found the haul concealed in a specially adapted lorry that arrived on a ferry from Rotterdam. The cigarettes were discovered hidden inside hollow metal beams underneath the trailer's load of wet wipe tissues. The lorry, which was travelling to Flint, Wales, was registered in Poland and had a Polish driver. The cigarettes, which totalled 63,680, were seized and will now be destroyed. Following investigation, no further action will be taken against the driver.

Tobacco Tax Raise State Revenue, Yunnan Authorities

The application by Yunnan authorities to sell 400,000 more cartons of cigarettes in order to raise tax revenue to spend on earthquake relief makes me feel very uncomfortable. At present, it's common to see local governments short of money. In the first seven months of this year, the national fiscal revenue increased 11.6 percent year-on-year. However, the growth rate dropped by 18.9 percentage points and the fiscal situation of local governments is not optimistic, with a deficit gap of 1.5807 trillion yuan ($249.6 billion). In cases of sudden disaster, local governments are very likely to be stretched in dispatching relief and financial resources. Therefore, it is reasonable for the Yunnan government to raise relief funds by using every means available after the earthquake. Nevertheless, we can't help suspect the real motives behind applying for an increased quota to sell more cigarettes are quite different.

Cigarettes Tax Hike Passes, Iowa Tobacco Retailers

Tobacco retailers on the Iowa side of the Missouri River could see a big boost in business as Omaha leaders consider a new cigarette tax. The proposal would add 35-cents per pack to the cost of cigarettes sold in Omaha, which Omaha Tobacco Outlet owner Bob Wagner fears will send his store’s profits into the ashtray. “Any tax is horrible,” Wagner says. “My customers are so price-conscious, if they can get a carton from a competitor of mine who is three miles down the road, I’m going to be hard-pressed.” Omaha leaders are considering the cigarette tax hike as a way to help pay for the construction of a new cancer treatment and research center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Maryland Proposes Tax on Tobacco Products

Tobacco, cigarettes are one of the major causes of today’s higher mortality rates, with several hundreds of youngsters falling into the habit of smoking each year. However, in order to tackle the conditions, governments have taken up several steps, be it banning smoking outdoors or in public areas or near schools or playgrounds, or the introduction of plain packaging. This new proposal suggested by Maryland government of imposing taxes on cigarettes, will surely bring about a significant change. Taxing can discourage the use of cigarettes, tobacco. The initiative will be beneficiary in three ways, health benefits, economically and also individual benefits.