SEATTLE (AP) — Federal agents say they’ve seized 6,500 cartons of cigarettes and more than $200,000 in a crackdown on illegally imported, untaxed cigarettes mailed to the Seattle area from Vietnam.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Mark Leiser says agents executed 14 search warrants Wednesday and also seized five vehicles.
Arrests are expected once the U.S. attorney’s office makes charging decisions.
Leiser says participants avoided paying tax on the cigarettes, defrauding the federal and state governments of an estimated $24 million since 2008. He tells The Seattle Times that the 6,500 cartons alone represent $262,000 in lost tax revenue.
Brands include Marlboro Reds, 555s and other Philip Morris brands.
Postal Inspector Jerry Styers says a carton of Marlboros costs $7 to $9 in Vietnam. In Washington, once taxes are added, that same carton costs $79 to $85. Investigators say the cartons were being sold for $20 to $30 less than legitimate retailers would charge.
