SINGAPORE – A Singaporean man peddling illegal cigarettes out of a flower pot in Lorong 6, Geylang, was arrested in an operation last week, which also saw nine Vietnamese men nabbed for selling illegal cigarettes. On April 6, a total of 130 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized, with duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) exceeding S$1,000. Customs officers saw the Singaporean man approach a flower pot along a walkway in Geylang. He ... Jump to full article >>

A special agent of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pleaded guilty Monday to possessing stolen firearms. Clifford Dean Posey, 43, of Chesapeake, also pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, embezzlement, making false statements and money laundering that occurred in the course of his official duties. His right foot bandaged and using crutches, Posey made the pleas to U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Hannah Lauck. He will be s ... Jump to full article >>

AN Australian retail group has announced they believe the federal government’s plain packaging of tobacco policy could increase the amount of illegally sold tobacco in counterfeit packaging. In a statement released on Friday, the Alliance of Australian Retailers said the policy would not only encourage the illegal tobacco trade but also cause unnecessary confusion for retail staff and create delays in service time. “The AAR believes tha ... Jump to full article >>

Three Edmond men have been named in a 59-count federal indictment that accuses them of illegally profiting from the sale of more than $3 million in untaxed cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Three Edmond men have been named in a 59-count federal indictment that accuses them of illegally profiting from the sale of more than $3 million in untaxed cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Khawer Saeed Ghill, 40, Ahsan Ullah, 41, and Asmat ... Jump to full article >>

By 8:30 a.m., amid the procession of sleepy-eyed office workers and addicts from the nearby methadone clinic, Lonnie Loosie plants himself in the middle of the sidewalk on Eighth Avenue in Midtown. Addressing no one in particular, he calls out his one-size-fits-all greeting: “Newports, Newports, packs and loosies.” Rarely does a minute go by without a customer stopping just long enough to pass a dollar bill to Lonnie Loosie, known to the po ... Jump to full article >>

The sale of smuggled cigarettes in Spain has soared since the government raised the tax rate on tobacco, a spokesman for Franco-Spanish tobacco producer Altadis said Monday. The company estimates smuggled cigarettes accounted for around six percent of Spain’s total cigarette consumption during the first three months of the year, compared to just one percent in all of 2010, the spokesman said. The problem is especially high in the southwest ... Jump to full article >>

At least 35 tonnes of tobacco has been seized from an unlicensed shop in Abu Dhabi, a top official said Thursday. Abu Dhabi municipality officials made the seizure at a tyre shop. A total of 700 sacks, each weighing 50 kg, were seized in addition to 20 barrels of raw tobacco. Tobacco processing, wrapping and grinding equipment were also confiscated. Khalifa Al Romaithi, director of public health, said the shop was engaged in an unlicensed busin ... Jump to full article >>

JITRA: A magistrate’s court here fixed April 20 to mention the case of two Thais charged with smuggling RM900,000 worth of cigarettes into this country. Magistrate Ahzal Fariz Ahmad Khairuddin said this was to allow the defence to obtain documents related to the case from the prosecution. Ma-Ae Itae, 32, from Bangkok, and Wisut Mekarun, 51, from Sadao, were separately charged with smuggling several types of contraband cigarettes in 1,010 maste ... Jump to full article >>

Prosecutors have agreed to drop possession criminal charges against the owner of a chain of Polk County tobacco stores. Tammi Siegfried, 35, signed a “pretrial intervention contract” Tuesday to avoid prosecution. She has agreed to stop selling products that sheriff’s deputies said are sometimes purchased by drug users. Siegfried was arrested last month after deputies seized bongs, grinders, scales and other merchandise from Low ... Jump to full article >>

OMAHA, Neb. — Police arrested four men who they said believe robbed two convenience stores within the same hour Sunday morning. Investigators were called to the Kun and Go at 154th and Pacific streets at 2:21 a.m. A witness told police that two men entered the store wearing face masks, hooded sweatshirts and gloves. The witness said one man showed a gun and demanded money. Authorities said the robbers left with cash and tobacco products. P ... Jump to full article >>