The Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade estimates that 8.16 billion cigarettes were smuggled into Iran during the eight months ending Nov. 21, indicating a 43% decline compared with last year’s similar period.
Cigarette exports registered a 47.9% decline to stand at 78.1 million during the period, whereas tobacco exports increased by 283.2% to reach 1,513 tons, Fars News Agency reported.
Treasury payments of tobacco companies reached 1.13 trillion rials ($8.62 million) in the eight-month period, showing an 81.9% rise year-on-year.
