Tobacco sellers caught for unlicensed sale of rolled cigarettes
An investigator demonstrates an automated cigarette roller at the Tongyeong branch office of the Changwon Prosecutors’ Office, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Cho Se-yong, Park Si-soo
Police caught 17 sellers of rolling tobacco on suspicion of unlicensed sale of rolled cigarettes and false “chemical-free” ads.
They were charged with breaking the Tobacco Control Law that allows only licensed entities to produce and sell rolled cigarettes. Violators can face up to three years in jail or a 30 million won ($28,200) fine.
They sold cigarettes for 2,000-2,500 won a packet, much lower than the 4,500 won of regular products, for a year from January 2017. The government imposes several heavy taxes on regular rolled cigarettes, but not on tobacco leaves and other material needed to make rolled cigarettes.
Police said the sellers falsely promoted their products as “chemical free” and thus “won't give you headaches.”