Breaking News: Habanos Swedens tobacco license revoked
Following Cigarrvärldens revelations, the Municipality of Gothenburg has decided on December 15, 2025, to revoke Elite Trading Scandinavia's (formerly Habanos Nordic AB) tobacco license. Reason: Chen Zhi. Chen Zhi has according to Cambodia-China Times just been arrested an hour or so ago and is on plane heading to China.
Published: 2026-01-07, at 15:53 Edited: 16:14
Disclaimer: Cigarrvärlden is owned and operated by Cigarrklubben CK Sverige AB, which also operates a cigar club and has a foot in both camps. To put it mildly. Divison and separation of operations and the editorial is explained under the section "Conflicts of Interest (in Swedish)". Cigarrvärlden operates under a ‘certificate of no legal impediment to publication conferring constitutional protection’ (utgivningsbevis). With this certificate, Cigarrvärlden enjoys a special legal status in Swedish law under the freedom of expression act. Cigarrklubben CK Sverige AB does not sell and have ever sold cigars or tobacco in any way, shape or form.
The grounds for revoking the tobacco license are partly that Elite Trading Scandinavia, by itself has failed to report changes in the composition of the board and in the ownership, which is a requirement under the Tobacco Act.
Another basis for revoking the tobacco license is:
"information indicating that Chen Zhi has been indicted by the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York for leading a global network of crypto fraud, human trafficking, corruption and money laundering."
The municipality considers the allegations to be "very serious". The municipality also reports that Elite Trading Scandinavia has failed to provide the municipality with requested documents, which also has affected Elite Trading Scandinavia in a negative manner.
This could mean the end of Cuban cigars in Sweden in the foreseeable future and close to 10 million USD that vanishes up in smoke. In an industry that has a turnover of around 24,5 million USD annually.
Elite Trading Scandinavia was served on December 19, 2025. The decision can be appealed and the deadline for the appeal is January 9, 2026. Currently, no appeal is on record with the authorities.
Cigarrvärlden will delve into the issue, while waiting for what is to come, feel free to refresh your memory with all the old articles about Elite Trading Scandinavia and Chen Zhi.
The editorial team.
12 September 2025 - Cuban Cigars And Their Asian Partners – Slave Trade, Fraud And Money Laundering. Under The Nose Of The Regulatory Agency In Gothenburg, Sweden.
25 Oktober 2025 - DOJ Tightens Noose On Owner Behind Cuban Cigar Giant
26 Oktober 2025 - Prince Groups latest rebuttal published in full
4 November 2025 - Swedish Habanos Importer gets Reprieve to present Chen Zhi's Cambodian tax and criminal records
9 November 2025 - Klarna blacklists Cuba and freezes payments to Swedish cigar dealers?
12 December 2025 - Chen Zhi to be removed from Habanos