The Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhii Deineko has recently met with representatives of «JT International Company Ukraine» and «Philip Morris International» to join forces and discuss further steps of cooperation and collaboration.

The Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhii Deineko has recently met with representatives of «JT International Company Ukraine» and «Philip Morris International» to join forces and discuss further steps of cooperation and collaboration.

The head of the border guard agency noted that the border guards are taking all necessary measures to promptly detect attempts to smuggle cigarettes across the border and to effectively prevent criminal activity on the approaches to the state border.

Serhii Deineko claims that "SBGS is focused on results and is ready to work honestly and openly. Due to close cooperation, border guards already receive significant information and consultation support from partners, assistance in the development of the dog service, in providing statistical information on the circulation of tobacco products. Thus, as a result of practical steps and information exchange operative units of SBGS continually revealed places of tobacco products stockpiling and prevented attempts of their movement ».

The results of joint work were highlighted during the conversation. It should be noted that the total volume of cigarettes detected by Ukrainian border guards since the beginning of the year is 5.5 million packs.

During the meetings, the parties agreed to continue cooperation, which would relate to expert assistance in the international law application in the field of tobacco goods regulation, counterfeit tobacco products detection and available information exchange.

According to the representatives of tobacco companies, at the moment Ukraine is a critical outpost to combat the illicit trafficking of tobacco products. The extremely important work carried out by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on a daily basis to prevent attempts of cigarettes smuggling, including detection of cross-border organized groups was highly praised and estimated.

The representatives of tobacco companies report, that although Ukraine has traditionally been considered a transit country, effective work to detect illegal tobacco channels by the State Border Guard Service makes organizers of illegal transactions bypass our country and there is a tendency to shift the routes.