From: New Jersey 101.5 FM
By Dino Flammia
Due to its higher-than-average cigarette taxes, New Jersey has become a hot zone for tobacco smuggling.
According to the New Jersey Department of Treasury, which handles the Office of Criminal Investigation, nearly 290,000 units of untaxed tobacco were seized in 2014 alone. Out of 527 cigarette and tobacco investigations on the matter, 270 involved cases that resulted in criminal charges.
“Profits are made by diverting cigarettes from low-tax states to high-tax states such as New Jersey,” said Scott Curley, Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Newark Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
