Stamping down on counterfeiters

A bill submitted to the Russian State Duma would tighten the penalty for the production, sale and use of counterfeit excise tax stamps for tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, according to a story in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

In fact, tightening the penalty hardly describes the situation. Under the bill, violations would be considered as serious as is counterfeiting currency, which is punishable by a 12-year prison term.

Officials confiscated about 21 million bottles of alcohol with forged excise stamps over five months of 2015.

No figures were given in regard to cigarettes.