JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. — U.S. Border Patrol agents and deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office seized more than 1 million smuggled cigarettes during a traffic stop.
Smuggling tobacco products is illegal, according to federal and state laws.
According to the US Border Patrol Buffalo Sector, Border Patrol agents were called to a traffic stop on April 14 that was initiated by deputies on State Route 411 in Jefferson County. During the investigation, they discovered more than 50 boxes that held more than one million non-compliant loose cigarettes.
“Discovering and removing illicit and unregulated tobacco products is one of the many enforcement actions we take to safeguard our nation and the community,” said Patrol Agent in Charge Andrew Regan in a released statement. “The partnership the Border Patrol has with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is crucial in the prevention of criminal organizations from profiting and exploiting the trafficking of potentially hazardous tobacco products.”
The cigarettes seized will be destroyed by the US Border Patrol. If you see any suspicious activity along the New York borders, you can report it at: 1-800-331-0353.
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