Palestinians smuggle cheaper nicotine fix from Jordan
Smugglers are finding a profitable business in moving cigarettes into Palestine from Jordan and competing with locally made tobacco and more expensive imported cigarettes.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — About six months ago, Mohammed (a pseudonym) was managing to smuggle 40 cartons of cigarettes (400 packs, 8,000 cigarettes) in small batches every month from Jordan into Palestine, where he sold them for a net profit of $1,000.
“There is increasing demand for smuggled cigarettes, given their low price, compared to the price of cigarettes on the Palestinian market,” Mohammed, who refused to reveal his real name for fear of reprisal, told Al-Monitor.
About his smuggling techniques, he said, “I ask some women or elderly men to help me bring cigarettes from Jordan, as each person is allowed up to 20 packs. I also unpack cartons and hide more packs under clothes in my bag.”
People arriving in Palestine through the Jordan-Palestine route are allowed only 20 packs (two cartons, 200 cigarettes). Any additional packs are confiscated by customs. The price of imported cigarettes — including Marlboro, Kent, L&M — in Jordan or at the Jordanian duty-free area ranges from $5.50 to $6.50 per pack, while cigarettes made in Jordan are purchased for $2.50 and sold for $4 on the Palestinian market. Meanwhile, locally produced cigarettes in Palestine — such as Imperial, Wissam and Jamal — cost $5 to $5.50.
