As farmers are harvesting and packaging their tobacco in readiness for this year’s marketing season in April, Tobacco Commission (TC) is warning tobacco vendors and unregistered traders who buy the leaf cheaply from farmers then sell for higher profit margins at the auction floors.

The commission’s newly elected chief executive officer Joseph Chidanti Malunga outlined that illegal vending is contrary to Section 67 (69) of the Tobacco Industry Act, which prohibits buying or selling tobacco outside the auction floors.

Malunga warned the vendors, using a case in which four men were sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with hard labour or in default pay K50 000 fine each for being found guilty of illegal vending of tobacco. “The strong message we are sending to people is that if they want to buy or sell tobacco it’s through the auction floors.” said the CEO.