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Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
749 Cartons of Cigarettes Worth Nearly $60,000 Confiscated from Cruise Passengers in California
749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes concealed in 10 pieces of luggage were found in California on Thursday, April 17, per a U.S. Customs and Border Protection press release The discovery was made after CBP officers inspected cruise passengers who had traveled out of Ensenada, Mexico The total value of the cigarettes is estimated to be $59,920Two female cruise passengers attempted to illegally import 749 cartons of cigarettes worth nearly $60,000 into California. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a press release on Wednesday, May 14, that the cruise ship traveled out of Ensenada, Mexico, and arrived at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal on Thursday, April 17. Upon inspection by CBP officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport area on that date, it was discovered that the women had 10 pieces of luggage full of cigarettes. CBP officers found 326 cartons of Newport 100's, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 43 cartons of Marlboro Silver, and 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold cigarettes, the agency said. According to the CBP, based on a low-end estimate of $80 a carton in California, the cigarettes' total value is estimated to be $59,920. Although the two women could present purchase receipts for the 749 cartons of cigarettes, the CBP said the pair did not provide the appropriate permits to import the large quantity of tobacco products. The CBP said that because the women were traveling with a high number of cigarettes, they would be considered "commercial" and not for personal use, resulting in the need for an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The TTB states on its website that an importer permit is required anytime anyone wishes to import tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, or roll your own tobacco into the U.S. for business purposes. Tobacco product labels must also meet FDA standards, including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions. Since the women did not present the proper documentation, the CBP said that all 749 cartons were seized and would be destroyed under CBP supervision. Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in a statement that the "importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives." 'Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price," she added. Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport noted that the selling of illegally important cigarettes could also "yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer," Bell said. "CBP officers at our nation's largest seaport complex, remain committed to enforcing our laws and to protect the American public." Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Cruise passengers arrested for smuggling 749 cases of cigarettes
Usually, the customs process for people with an American passport getting off a cruise ship just takes a few seconds. You look at the facial recognition and it tells you to walk through. Even on the rare occasions where you get flagged for more inspection, it usually just involves physically showing your passport to an agent. In rare situations, a customs agent may look through your bag and there are forms you need to fill out if you're bringing back over $10,000 in cash. Related: Royal Caribbean unveils its biggest and boldest innovation yet Some passengers, however, do get extra scrutiny. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport discovered 749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes concealed in 10 pieces of luggage from a couple arriving in a cruise ship from Ensenada, Mexico on April 17. On that day, two female passengers traveling together, disembarked an ocean liner arriving to Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal, and presented themselves for CBP inspection. During the inspection officers discovered 10 pieces of luggage full of cigarettes. Although the travelers presented purchase receipts, they were unable to provide the appropriate permits to import such a quantity of tobacco products. Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Cruise ships sell cartons of cigarettes onboard and you can buy them duty free in ports, which can mean prices much lower than in the U.S. You cannot, however, buy cigarettes for the purpose of resale. "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. In addition, tobacco product labels must meet FDA standards, such as including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions," according to a CBP press release. This is an area that's taken very seriously. "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." The examination of the 10 pieces of luggage resulted in the discovery of 326 cartons of Newport 100's, 58 cartons of Newport regulars,112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 43 cartons of Marlboro Silver, and 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold cigarettes. Based on a low-end estimate of $80 dollars a carton in the state of California, the total value of the cigarettes is estimated to be $59,920. All 749 cartons were seized and will be destroyed under CBP supervision. The report did not share what legal action the two women will face. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- CBS News
More than 150,000 contraband cigarettes seized from couple aboard cruise ship in Port of LA
Nearly 750 carton of contraband cigarettes were seized from a couple riding a cruise ship into the Port of Los Angeles in April. According to the U.S. Customs of Border Protection, two female passengers traveling together aboard the ship from Ensenada, Mexico, were found to be in possession of the illegal items once they disembarked at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal. Upon presenting themselves for inspection, agents found 10 pieces of luggage that were full of cigarettes. "Although the travelers presented purchase receipts, they were unable to provide the appropriate permits to import such a quantity of tobacco products," said CBP's release. According to CBP, large quantities of cigarettes are considered commercial and not personal use, requiring an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. They also require that tobacco product labels meet FDA standards, including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions. "The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives," said a statement from 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." In all, agents found 326 cartons of Newport 100's, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 43 cartons of Marlboro Silver and 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold, the release said. They estimate that the total value of the cigarettes is just under $60,000. "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 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. CBP officers at our nation's largest seaport complex, remain committed to enforcing our laws and to protect the American public." All of the cartons will be destroyed under supervision from CBP officials.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Officials say 749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes aboard cruise ship worth almost $60K
May 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that 749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes were discovered aboard a cruise ship at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal in April. According to CBP officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, 10 pieces of luggage full of cigarettes belonging to two female passengers was found. "The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives," said CBP Los Angeles Field Operations Director Cheryl M. Davies in a statement. "Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price." The luggage held 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 CBP said total estimated value was $59,920. Los Angeles/long Beach CBP Port Director Africa R. Bell said in a statement, "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." The 749 cartons seized will be destroyed under CBP supervision. Big quantities of cigarettes are deemed "commercial" and not for personal use. That requires a U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau importer permit. Imported tobacco must also meet U.S. FDA standards. The CBP said the passengers transporting the cigarettes produced receipts for them, but did not have the legally required import permits. The illegally imported cigarettes were on a cruise ship from Ensenada, Mexico. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
