UK Border Agency officers have seized five tonnes of hand-rolling tobacco that was hidden in a lorry as it entered the country at Dover’s Eastern Docks. The Czech-registered vehicle arrived on a ferry from Calais and was stopped by officers at the inward freight controls. After questioning the 39-year-old Czech driver, officers searched the vehicle and trailer. The haul of tobacco, with Luxembourg tax stamps, was found in 11 shrink wrappe ... Jump to full article >>

Anthony Sodini, 27, a correctional officer for five years, was arrested and booked about 1 a.m. after a Merced County Sheriff’s Department investigation, according to deputy Tom MacKenzie. After sheriff’s officials began to suspect that Sodini was smuggling contraband to inmates, members of the Merced-Mariposa High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force were brought in to investigate, resulting in Sodini’s arrest. MacKenzie ... Jump to full article >>

Two AK-47s bought in Arizona were used in a firefight that left a Border Patrol agent dead last month. The discovery comes amid a growing congressional investigation into the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In a sign of the cost of widespread U.S. weapons smuggling into Mexico, federal law enforcement sources have confirmed that two guns, part of a series of purchases that were being monitored by authorities, were found at t ... Jump to full article >>

A BBC reporter was assaulted during an undercover investigation into illegal sales of tobacco. Investigative journalist Sam Poling was filming a documentary at a market in the east end of Glasgow at the time. In footage released by the production team, one man is shown pushing Ms Polling then another runs at the film crew with a metal pole. Ms Poling’ s hand was bruised and the production team’s car was damaged. The attack happened w ... Jump to full article >>

Leading private airline Jet Airways Monday said it had initiated an investigation into the role of four of its cabin crew members who were allegedly caught smuggling cigarettes into Britain. The incident occurred Sunday, when four crew members belonging to a Delhi-London flight were allegedly caught. ‘As regards the said incident, a full-fledged investigation has ensued, based on specific inputs from concerned departments and agencies,R ... Jump to full article >>

The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations that guards were paid large sums of money to smuggle tobacco into the Lackawanna County Prison, sources said Wednesday. FBI agents were at the prison Tuesday night conducting interviews, one source said. “We are cooperating,” said Lackawanna County Commissioner Mike Washo. “That’s the extent of what I can tell you.” A former inmate, who spoke on the condition of a ... Jump to full article >>

A mother who posted a photo of her 11-year-old son apparently smoking a marijuana bong pipe is being investigated by child protection services. The disturbing image shows a baby sitting on a blanket wearing a nappy and putting the green glass smoking instrument to his mouth as if he were inhaling it. The child’s 19-year-old mother, from Jacksonville, Florida, took the photograph to show a friend and posted it online. She has denied suggest ... Jump to full article >>

The investigation into a series of explosions at a gun and ammunition manufacturing plant in far northern New Hampshire that killed two people has led to one machine, the state’s fire marshal said Saturday. Bill Degnan said that the investigation into Friday’s explosions at the MDM Muzzleloader building has led to a machine in the manufacturing section of the plant. He said no cause has been determined. About half of the plant was he ... Jump to full article >>

Police on Tuesday were investigating why a man opened fire outside a Knoxville hospital, killing a woman and himself, after he had taken a taxi there and given the cab driver $20 to wait five minutes. Two other women were injured in the rampage outside the discharge area at Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said. Cab driver Freddys Sakhleh told The Associated Press he picked up the gunman Monday outside an apartmen ... Jump to full article >>

Thirteen Washington area residents were indicted on charges of trading guns, drugs and cash for black market cigarettes to sell in New York, according to documents filed in federal court in Alexandria. Two conspirators are also accused of hiring a hit man to kill a husband and wife that they believed tried to steal from them. “The alleged crimes go far beyond illegal cigarettes, but also involve drugs, guns, and a plot to murder,” U. ... Jump to full article >>