Monthly Archives: August 2017

From: Convenience Store News

Grassroots Coalition Blocks San Francisco Menthol Ban

Board of Supervisors must now make one of three decisions.

By Melissa Kress

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Pointing to the city’s Office of Economic Analysis report, Rojas Jr. noted the economic impact could be even greater than the estimated $50 million when you factor in the loss of payroll tax and property tax, as well as possible small-business jobs.

Next Steps

In early August, the San Francisco Department of Elections validated the signatures collected by Let’s Be Real San Francisco, setting up a possible showdown on the election stage.

From: Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida via FDA

Two Charged In Federal Court with Smuggling Counterfeit Cigarettes

From: New South Wales Police Force
A high-ranking member of the Rebels OMCG has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged organised drug supply syndicates operating in NSW.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad established Strike Force Kindra in December 2016 to investigate reports of an extortion involving members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG).

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On Tuesday 8 August 2017, strike force investigators arrested five men – aged between 26 and 59 – who were charged with various offences related to the alleged importation of illegal tobacco and counterfeit cigarettes. They also remain before the courts.

Editor’s Note: The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit’s Opinion in QUINAULT INDIAN NATION [No. 15-35263 and No. 15-35267; D.C. No. 3:10-cv-05345-BHS] is available here. Below is an excerpt.

     Once again, the issue of tribal sovereign immunity and cigarette taxes is back in the federal courts. In this iteration, the Quinault Indian Nation (the “Nation”) sued Edward A. Comenout, Jr.; Robert R. Comenout, Sr.; and other defendants for engaging in a scheme to defraud the Nation of taxes. When the Nation later asked the district court to dismiss its action, Edward’s estate (the “Estate”) sought to keep the litigation alive, asserting that maintaining the suit was necessary to litigate its counterclaims against the Nation.

From: The Sherbrooke Times

Two Quebecers have recently been arrested in Ontario in possession of more than a ton of contraband tobacco.

Danny Guindon, 23, of Blainville, and Pascal Caron, 25, of Sainte-Thérèse, have been pinned on July 21, by police officers patrolling in the area of South Glengarry, near Cornwall.

Investigators reportedly first observed suspicious activity along the shores of the St. Lawrence river, and were later intercepted a white van on the edge of which were Guindon and Caron.

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