Smokers will now be required to pay more for all brands of cigarettes out of the Carreras Group arising from the introduction of a customs administration fee (CAF) on tobacco products by Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips.

Carreras Limited hiked the prices of the company's brands on Monday.

As such, the price for a carton of Craven 'A' and Matterhorn will now be $5,800 and a carton of Matterhorn Spotlight will be sold for $5,900.

The suggested retail price per 20-pack of Craven 'A' and Matterhorn is $580 and $590 per pack of Matterhorn Spotlight. The 10-pack will be sold for $290.

A carton of Pall Mall menthol and full flavour will now be sold for $4,000. The price for a pack of 20 will be $400.

Carreras said it was expected that the most popular price per stick of cigarette will be $33.50.

Phillips announced on February 12 that the Government expected to earn $1.2 billion from the introduction of the CAF.

Phillips told the House of Representatives that the CAF, which will be imposed on all imports, would replace the current customs user fee and other processing fees payable at the ports.

Phillips argued then that this would represent a more accurate reflection of the services being offered by the Jamaica Customs Department and would be in keeping with World Trade Organization guidelines.