Enforcement Forum

From: HM Revenue and Customs

An illegal tobacco processing factory has been discovered at an industrial unit in Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire.

Officers from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) raided the tobacco factory on Wednesday 19 November where they found around a tonne of tobacco, along with counterfeit tobacco pouches, duty labels and processing machinery.

The factory was discovered after HMRC investigators arrested two men at a Warwickshire Police-led road check at Warwick Services on the M40 on 17 November, where a van containing around half a tonne of processed tobacco was found.

John Cooper, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigation, HMRC said:

From: OpenDOR/Massachusetts Department of Revenue

Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Illegal Tobacco Commission, chaired by DOR Commissioner Amy Pitter, released a report on the illicit tobacco trade which recommends that teaming up with federal, state and local law enforcement can be a successful model for combatting such criminal activity.

And it works.   Recently a Connecticut man was charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, trafficking in contraband smokeless tobacco, money laundering, and violation of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act after several federal, state and local agencies including the Department of Revenue teamed up for an investigation into an alleged illegal tobacco operation.

From: The Frederick News-Post

Kate Leckie News-Post Staff

FREDERICK — Buy two packs of cigarettes down the road in Virginia and you might save a few bucks. Bring three packs into Maryland, and police could seize your car.

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