With borders closed, security stepped up and surveillance vigilant, chances of smuggling is slim to zero. Yet, the illegal sale of tobacco in the country is still thriving. The Bhutan Narcotics Control Authority (BNCA) seized 10 business licenses for the illegal possession of tobacco products in Thimphu recently.
The shopkeepers were fined accordingly and their licenses have been forwarded to the Regional Trade and Industry Office for further actions.
“We have been continuously conducting inspections, especially in Thimphu because we are not able to go outside Thimphu because of the travel restriction at the moment. We are still apprehending people for illegal possession of tobacco products without proof of tax. And as per the Tobacco Rules and Tobacco Control Act, we have been levying fines for illegal possession and keeping the tobacco products in their shops,” said Sonam Tashi, the Program Officer at the BNCA.
Although officials are tight-lipped about the source of the tobacco in the black market, netizens point their fingers to the shopkeepers who are hoarding the products from the duty-free outlets. The overwhelming number of people turning at the duty-free outlet to buy the products at a comparatively low price every day is believed to be channelled towards the growing black market for tobacco.
Meanwhile, the BNCA says it will continue to monitor the shops in Thimphu and other districts as well towards cleaning the country of the illegal sale of tobacco products.
Pema Seldon Tshering
