|
|
Share/Bookmark this Topic:
|
| Message |
Author |
by guest
on Fri Nov 19, 2004 3:06 am |
|
Having problems with customs?!!!
Anyone know what the deal is?
The three or four outfits that I use have quit shipping to the US
They say that it's a new twist by the postal inspectors and "ONLY TEMPORY"
Was to be fixed in a few days but after a few weeks I haven't heard anything new. |
|
|
guest
Guest
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
| |
|
by Guest
on Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:54 am |
|
One hundred fifty thousand cartons of illegally purchased cigarettes bound for the United States were confiscated Tuesday at Kennedy Airport in the first major bust there of non-taxed cigarettes bought over the Internet.
Federal, state and local authorities combed through the inventory Tuesday. The bust was the result of investigations by several agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, postal inspectors, customs agents, state and federal tax agents and investigators from the Queens District Attorney’s and U.S. Attorney’s offices.
The cigarettes were likely sent from Switzerland to the United States and were supposed to be distributed across the country. There is no cigarette tax in Switzerland.
New York has the highest cigarette taxes in the nation at over $3 per pack. The city’s lawyers have initiated legal action to stop Internet sales. They already won a lawsuit against a Swiss company and several more suits are pending.
The ATF has also closely monitored cigarette sales over the last five years, during which time black market sales have risen dramatically. The agency has linked some illegal cigarette sales to the terrorist groups Hezbollah and al Qaeda. In those instances, the sellers bought cartons in Virginia, where there is virtually no tax on cigarettes, and sold them in New York for a hefty profit.
On the Internet, cartons of major brands of cigarettes sell for as little as $10 before shipping costs. A carton costs $70 or more in New York.
One online cigarette buyer, who did not want his name used, saves $5 per pack by buying them on the Internet. For an extra $3, he can receive them one week from purchase. He never thought it was illegal. “I look at the Web site and it looks legal and legitimate, so I can’t see anything wrong with it. They talk about it as if it were legal,” he said.
The international sales business in cigarettes has forced the ATF and postal authorities to crack down on shipping policies. Despite Tuesday’s bust, the crackdown may be working. One international online retailer suspended sales to the United States because they could no longer ship here.
“Dear valuable customers and visitors from U.S.A.,” the site read. “We apologize for the inconveniences. Unfortunately we are currently experiencing difficulties with sending orders from Russia due to the changes in the postal regulations issued by the Federal Postal Authorities. We are currently working to solve this issue and will resume shipping as soon as possible.”
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1860&dept_id=109522&newsid=13392364&PAG=461&rfi=9 |
|
|
Guest
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Tom
on Fri Nov 19, 2004 9:41 am |
|
| Remember, there's always a way to get cheap cigarettes. The State of NY is currently batteling with the senecas also. For now, that's the best way to buy online cigs as long as you don't use a credit card that will rat you out. Other ideas are an annual trip to Richmond, injecting your own cigs, or contacting your local mafia agent. |
|
|
Tom
Smokers Rights Activist
Joined: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 961
Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Guest
on Tue Nov 23, 2004 8:02 am |
|
Time to check out the "Mafia"
Since the Feds have things tied-up at the border E-Smokes went up another $2.00 on my brand----Which makes it over 50% increase in about a year 
At this rate, even the cheap smokes will wind up $40.00 -$50.00 a carton
Who in Richmond do you see for the "DEAL"?
-J.C.- |
|
|
Guest
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by Tom
on Tue Nov 23, 2004 10:40 am |
|
| In Jersey, all you have to do is keep smoking in public on the street in a city, and pretty soon, someone will try and sell you cheap cigarettees. I don't buy from them though; I make my own. [/b] |
|
|
Tom
Smokers Rights Activist
Joined: Aug 24, 2003
Posts: 961
Location: The Kingdom of New Jersey
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
|
by J.C.
on Tue Nov 30, 2004 12:15 pm |
|
The Swiss sites are still showing "No USA Shipping" ----
Has anyone got an update?
-J.C.- |
|
|
J.C.
Guest
|
| |
Back to top |
| |
