Vancouver- Liquor Control Board enforcement agents intercepted two vans this morning as they entered Washington state containing approximately 9,720 cartons of untaxed cigarettes. The stop was made at the Washington state port of entry, north of Oregon, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Washington State Patrol. The estimated tax value of the cigarettes is $80,190.

The vans were heading to Native American smokeshops in western Washington. The source of these cigarettes can not be revealed due to an ongoing investigation.

Currently the state loses 115 million dollars a year to cigarette tax evasion. The cigarette tax on a pack of cigarettes is 82.5 cents ($8.25 per carton).

It is a gross misdemeanor to possess or transport untaxed cigarettes. The following penalties apply:

• Seizure of the cigarettes
  
• Seizure of the vehicles used to transport the cigarettes
  
• A remedial penalty of either $10 per pack or $250 (whichever is greater)
  
• Taxes and interest

If one is in possession of more than 60,000 untaxed cigarettes it is a class C felony. Conviction could result in jail time in addition to the above penalties.

In addition to confiscating large shipments of untaxed cigarettes entering the state, the Liquor Control Board will begin enforcement action on the individual purchasers of untaxed cigarettes in December. These purchasers bypass Washington state's cigarette tax by driving to border states and reservation smoke shops to buy cigarettes.

Liquor agents will issue criminal citations to those in possession of the untaxed cigarettes.

For more information, please contact Tricia Currier.