BANGKOK, 23 March 2011 (NNT) – The Finance Ministry is prepared to seek the Prime Minister’s consideration on six measures for preventing sales of illegal cigarettes, which have cost the country billions of baht every year.

In his capacity as the chairman of the committee for prevention and suppression of illegal cigarettes, Deputy Finance Minister Man Pattanothai revealed that six measures had been drawn up as part of the framework to eradicate cigarette smuggling into the country and would be presented to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva within mid-April.

The six measures include the establishment of an intelligence center to coordinate with relevant state and private agencies on monitoring trades of illegal cigarettes, and the formation of networks to help put an end to such practices.

NNT