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Cuomo puts cigarette smugglers to rest, $1.7 million seized

July 15, 2014 From Gov. Cuomo's Office
Cuomo's task force seized over 2.5 million cigarettes
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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday that the new Cigarette Strike Force targeting illegal tobacco trafficking and sales has already seized nearly $1.7 million in cash and contraband that includes 2.7 million cigarettes and cigars in its first six months.

“Cigarette smugglers should be on notice – our administration will not stand for those who break the law and steal from taxpayers,” Governor Cuomo said. “With 36 separate interventions since January, our Cigarette Strike Force is aggressively cracking down on individuals who store, traffic, or sell contraband products. This quick success is a reminder to would-be traffickers that New York has zero tolerance for this illegal activity, and those who further it will be brought to justice.”

Cigarette and tobacco-related seizures by the Strike Force, a unit within the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s Criminal Investigations Division, have yielded $1.68 million in contraband and cash, including:

  • 12,236 cartons of untaxed cigarettes (200 per carton = 2,447,200 cigarettes)
  • 254,873 cigars
  • 2,061 pounds of loose tobacco
  • 24,773 counterfeit cigarette tax stamps

The Governor signed a law a year ago authorizing the Tax Department to impose a penalty of up to $600 for each carton of unstamped or unlawfully stamped cigarettes seized – an increase from $150 per carton. The current tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes in New York State is $4.35; in New York City there’s an additional $1.50 in tax added to the $4.35.

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