Illegal Cigarettes Seized

Federal agents seized tons of cigarettes being illegally sent to the U.S. The Daily News reports that a DHL employee provided the tip, which led to finding the cache of cigarettes at JFK. A Swiss company, Otamedia, has been selling cigarettes over the Internet. A carton of Marlboros would run $13.95, which could mean a savings of $50 without paying for various taxes. And if you happened to order cigarettes online, be warned - the authorities are investigating the addresses the cigarettes would have been shipped to. Gothamist supposes this kind of airport intrigue is what should make a concept like NBC's drama-in-an-airport LAX interesting, but for some reason, it's much more interesting to read about it in the papers.

New York City, which has very high cigarette taxes, has filed a complaint against Otamedia, which has had trouble with tobacco giant Philip Morris for selling cigarettes online. Mayor Bloomberg wanted people to "blow the whistle" on the local bodegas that sell them ciggies without tax. And here's the city's Everybody Loves A Quitter program to stop smoking.

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By Jen Chung in News on November 17, 2004 9:33 AM

Comments [rss]

ryan eller

its a crock of crap if i would have known about smokes for that cheap i would have bought them to the u.s government has no right to say where and how we buy stuff as long as its not drugs go after the meth heads and not the people who work there asses off trying to support there familys and then bargan shop online next ull put me in jail for buying my clothes on ebay (not that i do just a figure of speach) oh and not to mention we are the goverments boss if every american sitesen decided eh im tired of presidents we could get ride of the whole government we pay youre bills WE OWN YOU!!! so do youre job and work on the drugs not our buying habbits.

DD

This is absolutely ridiculous! Our government has the right to go after 40, 50 and 60 year old "women" for buying cigarettes off the internet. Because those are the ones buying, meaning they are the ones with the credit cards trying to save a buck for their families members that smoke. Come-on Get A Grip! Go after the real drugs and leave us old women alone!!

DZ

Damn, do I need to worry about paying back taxes or serving time if I have ordered cigarettes from yesmoke in the past? Even if I didn't know it was illegal (I always thought it was the equivelant of buying in a duty-free shop)? Would anyone who knows please e-mail me...thanks

Dean

Damn. I really wish the Bloomberg SS would use its limited resources to go after actual criminals actually coercing people. This is an issue of rights: Do I or do I not have the right to buy whatever I want from whomever I wish? This is the essence of free trade, and an agreement between consenting individuals that violate no one's rights is its best practice.

Leave us alone, Fuhrer!