One Carton of Cigarettes for 18,000 Yuan? Don’t Believe So-Called Rare Cigarettes Sold on WeChat

Chongqing Evening News reports: On September 3, the Yubei District Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, together with public security authorities, carried out a raid on three suspected counterfeit cigarette sales points. Counterfeit versions of unusual cigarettes, including Youyong-brand cigarettes, were seized at the scene.

According to the investigation, this was a cigarette-selling chain operating through WeChat Moments, specifically targeting people who love collecting discontinued cigarettes by promoting high-priced cigarettes and so-called discontinued products. Youyong-brand cigarettes are one of the most sought-after collectible cigarettes among enthusiasts and are very expensive. Mr. Zhu, a smoker, told Chongqing Evening News that this cigarette was produced by Wuhan Cigarette Factory, one of China’s oldest tobacco companies. Its predecessor was the Hankou branch of the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, founded in 1916, giving it a history of nearly 100 years. Although Youyong-brand cigarettes stopped being produced long ago and are already discontinued, collectors still remain fascinated by them. However, many online sellers promote them using claims such as “still in production for internal supply” and “genuine goods kept in collection for many years.” These cigarettes once sold for 2 yuan per pack, but were later hyped online to as much as 18,000 yuan per carton, or 1,800 yuan per pack, making them arguably the most outrageously expensive cigarettes in China.

Those collecting these cigarettes are often business owners or wealthy second-generation consumers. Not long ago, the Yubei Tobacco Monopoly Bureau received a report that counterfeit cigarettes had been purchased through WeChat. The WeChat shop owner specialized in selling cigarettes unavailable on the regular market.

Using the WeChat account provided by the informant, inspectors posed as buyers and joined the seller’s WeChat circle. The owner, whose online name was Yuanyuan, was a woman who frequently posted information about new stock. Surveillance found that Yuanyuan delivered goods throughout the main urban area to as many as 15 regular customers. These regular customers were all VIPs. Only those who had purchased for a period of time, exceeded a certain volume, and paid a 188-yuan membership fee could join. Investigators then discovered that another woman using the online name Dingguagua had a particularly close relationship with Yuanyuan and often received express parcels from Fengjie. Both Yuanyuan and Dingguagua were born in 1990.

The enforcement team of the Yubei Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and police officers split into three groups and acted simultaneously at the locations of Yuanyuan, Dingguagua, and the Fengjie site. A total of 250 cartons of counterfeit Chunghwa cigarettes were uncovered. This type of Chunghwa cigarette is not available on the market and was advertised as internal factory supply. Several hundred additional tobacco products could not be appraised because they were not officially marketed. More than 700 cartons were seized from the three sites, with a preliminary estimated value of about 150,000 yuan. After checking the account books, investigators found sales totaling more than 2 million yuan.

“More than 50 kinds of one-of-a-kind and discontinued cigarettes are being collected mainly by young people,” an inspector told Chongqing Evening News. He said three types of people are especially interested in these cigarettes: first, wealthy second-generation consumers and high-income groups; second, young people who enjoy nightlife; and third, some students, who are highly curious but purchase smaller quantities.

It is reported that starting on August 25, Chongqing launched a special “Sword” campaign targeting counterfeit, smuggled, and illegal activity in the cigarette market. For the first time, it was organized by the municipal government, led by the Chongqing Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, and jointly participated in by various government departments. The campaign focuses on cleaning up famous tobacco and hotel venues involved in counterfeit sales and internet-based counterfeit sales, establishing a blacklist database of individuals involved in tobacco-related violations on the internet and WeChat self-media, strengthening supervision of online tobacco-related information, and lawfully cracking down on illegal and criminal activities involving tobacco conducted through the internet.