ILLEGALLY imported cigarettes are being widely sold in Honiara and other provincial centres.
One such product is Alishan cigarette, produced by Taiwan Mioali Tobacco Industry Corp Limited.
“These cigarettes are put in vessels that came into our waters but never come to our shores,” one source familiar with the trade said.
“This is why Customs must check these types of vessels,” the source added.
Sale of these cigarettes is increasing at the markets in Honiara, Noro and Auki.
A visit by the Solomon Star to one of the markets in Honiara confirmed this particular cigarette product is being sold by market vendors.
This practice has already breached the Tobacco Control Act 2010 and Custom and Exercise Act 2003.
Under the Tobacco Act 2010, section 15, no person shall manufacture, sell, distribute, import or export or cause to be manufactured, sold, distributed, imported or exported any tobacco product except with a licence.
Only three companies are being issued licences to produce and sell cigarettes.
Under the Custom Act (Section 34), cigarettes is listed as Restricted Imports. And manufacturers must print health warning signs on the packets of the cigarettes.
In this case the particular cigarette has breached the Customs Act because there is no health warning on the packet.
Early this year there was also an illegal cigarette called double happiness, which was sold at the local market.
The source questioned how the illegal trade of cigarettes continues to enter the country.
By CHARLES KADAMANA
