Three Tula Residents Face Trial Over Illegal Cigarettes

In Tula, three local residents are set to face trial for the illegal trafficking of a large batch of tobacco products. The indictment was approved by the prosecutor«s office of the Proletarsky District.

According to investigators, from January to May 2025, the accomplices purchased unmarked cigarettes from unidentified individuals in Moscow — cigarettes that are subject to mandatory excise stamp labeling. They then stored the products in a warehouse in the settlement of Teplyoye (Tula Region), planning further resale. The total value of the batch exceeded 24.2 million rubles (about $268,900 at current rates).

The illegal goods were confiscated by officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Directorate for Tula Region, thereby halting the criminal activity.

The defendants are charged with acquiring and storing unmarked tobacco products for the purpose of sale, committed by an organized group on a particularly large scale. The penalty for the offense provides for up to six years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million rubles (about $11,100 at current rates).

The accused are currently under a written undertaking not to leave the city and to behave appropriately. The criminal case has been sent to the Central District Court of Tula for trial on the merits.