Moldova warns of youth nicotine risks as police seize contraband cigarettes

Moldovan authorities and health officials are raising alarms over youth exposure to nicotine pouches following the product's recent market launch by tobacco giant Philip Morris. The Ministry of Education and Research launched an informational campaign warning parents that the pouches, which resemble candy, pose significant developmental risks to children and teenagers. Although nicotine pouches are set to be banned under Moldovan law starting June 2026, Philip Morris introduced them shortly before the restriction took effect, claiming its statutory reading permits sales through June 2027.

In a separate law enforcement action, Moldovan police intercepted a major smuggling operation in the country’s northern region. Officers executed searches targeting two suspects, aged 56 and 66, confiscating nearly 1.9 million illicit cigarettes as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into excisable goods trafficking.

Sources: Moldova1, Point, Ziarul de Gardă.