The tobacco inspection brigade is not a police, but a law enforcement agency of the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau. Its main responsibility is to crack down on the illegal tobacco market, including investigating and dealing with counterfeit and shoddy tobacco products, tobacco smuggling and other illegal acts. The work of the tobacco inspection brigade is similar to that of the police, but it does not have the identity and power of the police.

In China, the tobacco inspection brigade is usually directly led by the Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, and its members need to receive professional legal and professional training to ensure that they can effectively perform their duties.