EghtesadOnline: Following the government’s belated policy of curbing cellphone smuggling, another phase of the so-called Mobile Registry Scheme went into effect Saturday with the Communication Regulatory Authority announcing that henceforth LG phones must be registered with the ombudsman or they will be disconnected from the network.

EghtesadOnline: With the government tightening the noose around contraband smartphones, the sector has reported 88.6% year-on-year increase in legal imports during the nine months to Dec. 21.

EghtesadOnline: As the government plan for curbing cellphone smuggling gradually goes into full swing, people are being warned regularly by authorities that at the time of purchase they should personally check whether the handset entered the country through legal channels.

EghtesadOnline: Incoming passengers are not allowed to bring more than one cellphone and will have to pay 18% of the value of the phone as tax, the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration announced over the weekend.