However, cigarette smuggling into the European Union is still a major problem and, in 1999 the authorities in the Member States seized approximately 570,000 master cases of cigarettes which were in the process of being illegally introduced into the EU (1 master case = 10,000 cigarettes - 1 container of cigarettes = 1.000 master cases of cigarettes = 10.000.000 cigarettes = around 1.000.000 EURO in Custom duties, VAT and excise. 25% of the above mentioned 1.000.000 EURO are destined for the Community budget like own resources).
La contrebande de cigarettes dans l'Union européenne reste un problème majeur. En 1999, les autorités des États membres ont saisi environ 570.000 caisses de cigarettes en passe d'être illégalement introduites dans l'Union européenne (une caisse = 10.000 cigarettes - 1 conteneur de cigarettes = 1.000 caisses = 10.000.000 cigarettes = environ 1.000.000 d'euros en droits de douane, TVA et accises. 25% de ce mission d'euros sont destinés au budget communautaire comme ressources propres).