January 19, 2005
A routine stop by a Washington State Patrol commercial
vehicle inspection officer near Spokane last week led to the seizure
of nearly 20,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes headed for three smoke
shops on the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
The Jan. 10 seizure represents a state tax loss of
approximately $280,000.
Because ATF obtained the warrant, the federal
government will handle the seized cigarettes.
Carter Mitchell, the Washington
State Liquor Control Board’s Tobacco Tax Program manager, said the
seizure sends an important message to other would-be tax evaders.
“If you do this, you will get
caught, you will lose money, and you will face charges.” Mitchell
said.
The seizure followed a random stop
by a WSP officer at the Washington Port of Entry on Interstate 90,
east of Spokane, near Liberty Lake.
The driver produced shipping
documents that indicated the truck contained cigarettes shipped by an
Illinois company not licensed to do business in Washington and
destined for three smoke shops located on the Puyallup Indian
Reservation in Milton and Puyallup.
The suspicious inspector notified
the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. ATF obtained a federal warrant to
search the vehicle for contraband cigarettes.
LCB officers and agents from ATF
and the Internal Revenue Service inventoried the contents of the truck
and ATF seized 19,650 cartons of contraband cigarettes, as well as the
truck. Possession and transportation of more than 60,000 untaxed
cigarettes is a felony violation of both state law and the federal
contraband cigarette trafficking act.
####
Anyone who has information regarding
illegal activity at a licensed establishment is encouraged to report
that information to the Liquor Control Board’s toll-free tip line:
1-888-838-3956.
|
