China destroys seized tobacco products in nationwide crackdown

Chinese authorities destroyed 188 million smuggled cigarettes, more than 55,000 e-cigarettes and 2.7 metric tons of cut tobacco in a coordinated operation across several regions on Monday, the Ministry of Public Security said.

The destruction activities were carried out simultaneously in locations including Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, Fangchenggang in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Kunming in Yunnan province and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The confiscated tobacco products were disposed of using environmentally friendly methods, including biomass power generation, which converts waste into usable energy and resources, the ministry said.

The operations also featured public legal education activities aimed at strengthening governance, protecting public safety and promoting development.

Since the beginning of this year, 13 government departments, including the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Customs, have jointly conducted a nationwide campaign targeting tobacco-related crimes.

The campaign has focused on tobacco products manufactured illegally overseas and smuggled into China, while strengthening enforcement throughout the supply chain, including purchasing, transportation, storage and sales.

Authorities have intensified inspections and enforcement at ports and border areas, targeted major smuggling sources, and strengthened international and cross-border law enforcement cooperation to block smuggling routes and curb tobacco-related crimes.

Since the campaign began, authorities nationwide have investigated more than 4,500 tobacco smuggling cases, seizing about 1.27 billion smuggled cigarettes, 150,000 cigars and 39.8 metric tons of cut tobacco and tobacco leaves. The seized products were valued at 2.37 billion yuan ($354 million), according to the ministry.

Customs anti-smuggling authorities said they would maintain strong enforcement against tobacco smuggling and related crimes, strengthen coordination among government departments, improve long-term joint enforcement mechanisms and deepen international law enforcement cooperation.

The broader goal is to strengthen comprehensive governance of the tobacco market, maintain market order, protect State interests and safeguard consumers' rights and interests, authorities said.