Smoke cease: Officers make second-biggest cigarette seizure in Tobacco Management’s historical past

Arkansas Division of Finance and Administration

Legislation enforcement officers made the second-biggest seizure of unlawful cigarettes within the historical past of Arkansas Tobacco Management throughout a site visitors cease in Lonoke County final week, the state company introduced Monday.

Final Wednesday, an agent with the Central Arkansas Drug Activity Drive stopped a semi-truck and trailer on Interstate 40 close to Lonoke and located 27,940 packs of untaxed cigarettes valued at greater than $243,000. 

The cigarettes have been seized together with $4,142 in money and the motive force, 35-year-old Emile Bangoura of Atlanta, was arrested. Bangoura was taken to the Lonoke County jail and was charged with possession of untaxed tobacco.

“Untaxed unlawful cigarette smuggling has important monetary results on law-abiding enterprise,” mentioned Trent Minner of the state Division of Finance and Administration, which incorporates Arkansas Tobacco Management. “We have now greater than 5,200 lively tobacco permits in Arkansas. These are companies that pay taxes as required and are monitored to make sure compliance with all guidelines and rules.”

Arkansas cigarettes carry a stamp that signifies a wholesale tax has been paid on them. Arkansas residents can possess as much as one carton and one pack of cigarettes that don’t carry a wholesale stamp, which means Arkansans aren’t allowed to purchase truckloads of out-of-state cigs and convey them into the state. 

The Central Arkansas Drug Activity Drive is a coalition of metropolis police departments and sheriff’s places of work within the area, in accordance with Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Division of Finance and Administration. 

The seizure was the second massive interception of unlawful cigarettes up to now 5 months, following the state’s largest ever in October. In that cease, close to Carlisle, Arkansas State Law enforcement officials discovered 32,671 packs of untaxed cigarettes price $311,000. 

The motive force of that car, Ali Ali Ashabi of El Paso, Texas, was charged with possession of untaxed tobacco and unauthorized use of one other individual’s property to facilitate sure crimes. Final month, Ashabi entered a negotiated plea to a Class A misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay greater than $37,000 in fines and restitution.

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