Latest news with #Newport100s
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Cruise ship passengers try to smuggle 150,000 cigarettes in California, feds say
Two cruise ship passengers arriving at a Southern California port were found with 150,000 cigarettes in their luggage, federal border agents reported. Agents found 749 cartons of cigarettes in 10 pieces of luggage in Long Beach on April 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a Wednesday, May 14, news release. The two women found with the cigarettes had receipts showing they were legally purchased but did not have proper paperwork to import the large quantity into the U.S., agents said. They had just arrived on a cruise ship from Ensenada, Mexico. 'Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price,' said Cheryl M. Davies, the agency's director of field operations in Los Angeles. The cigarettes, which included 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, had an estimated street value of $59,920, agents said. The cigarettes will be destroyed, the agency said. The release did not say whether the passengers were arrested or charged. Long Beach is about a 30-mile drive south from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
An estimated $60K in cigarettes seized from cruise passengers in California
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 750 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes from two cruise passengers in Long Beach, California. Officers found the cigarettes, including Newport 100s, Marlboro Red, Marlboro Silver and other varieties, in 10 pieces of luggage during an April 17 inspection, according to a May 14 news release. The couple had arrived from Ensenada, Mexico on a cruise. The agency did not identify the travelers or the cruise line they were sailing with. 'Large quantities of cigarettes are considered 'commercial' not personal use; therefore, an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is required,' CBP said in the release. 'In addition, tobacco product labels must meet FDA standards, such as including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions.' The two women had receipts for the cigarettes but could not show the required permits. CBP estimated the cartons – which will be destroyed under the agency's supervision – to be valued at $59,920. 'Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import,' added Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. 'This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer.' The news comes after CBP said in late April that officers had seized close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl from a cruise passenger arriving in Galveston, Texas. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CBP seizes estimated $60K in illegal cigarettes from cruise passengers
USA Today
15-05-2025
- USA Today
An estimated $60K in cigarettes seized from cruise passengers in California
An estimated $60K in cigarettes seized from cruise passengers in California Show Caption Hide Caption FDA proposes cutting nicotine in cigarettes by more than half The FDA has proposed caps on nicotine in cigarettes. The potential rule could reduce the concentration of nicotine in cigarettes by more than half. Scripps News CBP confiscated approximately 750 cartons of illicit cigarettes from two cruise passengers in Long Beach. The cigarettes, lacking necessary permits and FDA-compliant labels, were discovered in the passengers' luggage after arriving from Ensenada, Mexico. The estimated value of the contraband cigarettes is $59,920, and they will be destroyed. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 750 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes from two cruise passengers in Long Beach, California. Officers found the cigarettes, including Newport 100s, Marlboro Red, Marlboro Silver and other varieties, in 10 pieces of luggage during an April 17 inspection, according to a May 14 news release. The couple had arrived from Ensenada, Mexico on a cruise. The agency did not identify the travelers or the cruise line they were sailing with. 'Large quantities of cigarettes are considered 'commercial' not personal use; therefore, an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is required,' CBP said in the release. 'In addition, tobacco product labels must meet FDA standards, such as including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions.' The two women had receipts for the cigarettes but could not show the required permits. CBP estimated the cartons – which will be destroyed under the agency's supervision – to be valued at $59,920. 'Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import,' added Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. 'This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer.' The news comes after CBP said in late April that officers had seized close to 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl from a cruise passenger arriving in Galveston, Texas. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
CBP seizes massive haul of 150,000 illegal cigarettes from cruise passengers in California
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Southern California have reportedly seized a massive haul of illegally imported cigarettes intercepted from two cruise ship passengers last month. Officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport discovered roughly 150,000 cigarettes, stored in 749 cartons across 10 pieces of luggage, from a couple arriving from Ensenada, Mexico, on April 17, according to a CBP press release. Cbp Officers Seize Over $14M Of Alleged Methamphetamine At Southern Border CBP estimated the seizure — which included, but was not limited to, 326 cartons of Newport 100s and 210 cartons of Marlboro Golds — to be worth some $59,920, assuming a low-end selling price of $80 per unit. "This is definitely a big bust," Jaime Ruiz, the CBP's Strategic Media Engagement Branch Chief for most of the Western U.S., told Fox News Digital. Ruiz called it "one of the largest we've seen at the LA:Long Beach seaport complex." The women presented themselves for inspection after disembarking at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal, at which point the cigarette stash was found. Read On The Fox News App Despite providing purchase receipts, they were unable to produce permits for transportation of such a quantity of tobacco products. Sinaloa Cartel Leaders Charged With Narco-terrorism After Authorities Seize 1.65 Tons Of Fentanyl "Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import," said Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, according to the release. "This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer," Bell continued, noting that "CBP officers at our nation's largest seaport complex remain committed to enforcing our laws and to protect the American public." Australian Authorities Intercept Over A Ton Of Cocaine Worth $400M Investigation into the incident may continue, notes FOX 11 Los Angeles, and the women may be subject to penalties for violating import laws. But the "immediate consequence," Ruiz noted, "is that now there is a negative record and, by default, they have incurred a significant loss of nearly $60K." That loss, Ruiz continued, is realized in the seizure and destruction of the cigarettes. "Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price," Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in the article source: CBP seizes massive haul of 150,000 illegal cigarettes from cruise passengers in California
Fox News
15-05-2025
- Fox News
CBP seizes massive haul of 150,000 illegal cigarettes from cruise passengers in California
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Southern California have reportedly seized a massive haul of illegally imported cigarettes intercepted from two cruise ship passengers last month. Officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport discovered roughly 150,000 cigarettes, stored in 749 cartons across 10 pieces of luggage, from a couple arriving from Ensenada, Mexico, on April 17, according to a CBP press release. CBP estimated the seizure — which included, but was not limited to, 326 cartons of Newport 100s and 210 cartons of Marlboro Golds — to be worth some $59,920, assuming a low-end selling price of $80 per unit. "This is definitely a big bust," Jaime Ruiz, the CBP's Strategic Media Engagement Branch Chief for most of the Western U.S., told Fox News Digital. Ruiz called it "one of the largest we've seen at the LA:Long Beach seaport complex." The women presented themselves for inspection after disembarking at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal, at which point the cigarette stash was found. Despite providing purchase receipts, they were unable to produce permits for transportation of such a quantity of tobacco products. "Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import," said Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, according to the release. "This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer," Bell continued, noting that "CBP officers at our nation's largest seaport complex remain committed to enforcing our laws and to protect the American public." Investigation into the incident may continue, notes FOX 11 Los Angeles, and the women may be subject to penalties for violating import laws. But the "immediate consequence," Ruiz noted, "is that now there is a negative record and, by default, they have incurred a significant loss of nearly $60K." That loss, Ruiz continued, is realized in the seizure and destruction of the cigarettes. "Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price," Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in the release.
