AN INVESTIGATION by the daily SME has shown that cigarettes smuggled from the Ukraine and Russia are readily available on Bratislava cigarette stands. Cigarette producers were not surprised by the ease with which the contraband cigarettes could be bought.
A statement from the cigarette firm Phillip Morris reads: "The substantial [tax] rises introduced by the government forces consumers to look for cheaper alternatives, such as products that are untaxed or have lower taxes, for example those produced in neighbouring countries."
