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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 29,000 glass pipes from an international mail holding facility in Jersey City on June 24. The pipes were part of a shipment from a Canadian company that had been previously charged with transporting drug paraphernalia into the U.S. Although the sale of such smoking accessories is legal, (provided they are marketed as being only for tobacco use--the reason even using the word "bong" in a head shop can get you thrown out the door) certain laws aimed at protecting youth prohibit the transfer of items deemed to be "drug paraphernalia" through the mail. The criteria smoking accessories must meet in order to be considered as such are laid out in U.S. Code 21 ยง 863(d). Officials place the market value of the pipes at around $500,000, and say they were headed for sale in New York City. Sadly, this means that St. Mark's might be short a few glow-in-the-dark skull bongs this summer.
$500,000 Worth of "Tobacco Pipes" Seized in Jersey City
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not exactly NY news, but it's one more reason to hate hamas terrorists and the fascists in their mid
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That'll show 'em terrists!
Awesome, more lost sales tax revenue for the state, and more time (and money) wasted by officials while other actually important stuff is not being done.
If its already their job to seize contraband how is it wasting money?
They could be focusing on the actual drugs (another dumb war) or other contraband such as counterfeit items or human slaves.
They could be focusing on the actual drugs (another dumb war) or other contraband such as counterfeit items or human slaves.
They do all those things as well. If they come across other illegal activity should they ignore it? Do you really want individual customs agents deciding which are the really important laws to uphold and which ones they can let slide? If you don't like the fact that the pipes are illegal then write to your Congressman or Senator.
If the illegal activity in question is selling bongs, then yes, I want them to ignore it. Writing to a senator is arguably a better way to get something done about it than making blog comments but that's not really stopping you from making two comments about this story already
The fact of the matter is that it is not illegal to sell water pipes. If the Muslims and Egyptians and everyone else that line Steinway Street in Astoria can sit in front (or back) of a number of restaurants and bars and smoke away on their hookahs (aka water pipes), then everyone should be able to do it without fear of a fine or jail time.
their department should be cut due to the fact that its a waste of money
buzz kill. i and i will be smokin' out of an apple until they re-up.
That'll stop those Canadian bastards! Trying to infiltrate our country with their BC best!
Why pay money for a bong when you can just make your own?
If theres a will, the internet has a way.
That looks nothing like Yoda. Seize away.
But the Princess Leia is dual-chambered magnificence!
What a complete and utter waste of resources.
It doesn't sound like much effort went into this "bust". The company that shipped the pipes had shipped them in the past. The return address of the shipper was probably flagged by a computer, a couple of agents opened the shipment and the pipes were impounded. There won't even be a court case unless the owners of the shipment wish to challenge the seizure.
In a perfect world, they'll confiscate the guns and let us keep our shitty bongs.
Right, and in our imperfect reality we have our guns to protect our rights. For example the right to smoke our shitty bongs.
I'm scared of guns and you.
Sigh. Is there nothing more important to tend to?