LOS ANGELES (WKRC) – United States Customs and Border Protection officers at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport seized 749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes concealed in 10 pieces of luggage from a couple arriving on a cruise ship from Mexico.
Two female passengers disembarked at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal on April 17 and presented themselves for CBP inspection. During the inspection, officers found that the luggage was filled with cigarettes. Although the travelers had purchase receipts, they did not have the necessary permits to import such a large quantity of tobacco products into the U.S.
“The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price.”
Further inspection of the luggage revealed 326 cartons of Newport 100s, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 43 cartons of Marlboro Silver, and 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold cigarettes. The total value of the cigarettes is estimated to be $59,920, based on a low-end estimate of $80 per carton in California…