[Folk's buying cigarettes via Yesmoke, which is the most popular seller on the net ... may not be getting them without a hefty tax bill. This will be effecting more than New York, but, everyone in the USA, it's where the packages from Europe would first go through customs.]

"Feds stub out big cig racket"


BY ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

"Federal agents have seized tons of bootleg cigarettes at Kennedy Airport that were sent to New York from Switzerland as part of an illegal scheme to sell tax-free smokes, authorities said yesterday.
Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began confiscating the shipments of cigarettes bought over the Internet in the last few days, authorities said.

A law enforcement source said the scheme has cost the feds roughly $90million in taxes over the last three years.

The feds are sorting the cigarette shipments by their address labels - and smokers who hoped to get a deal instead could get a visit from the taxman, authorities said.

The probe, launched after a DHL shipping company employee tipped off Port Authority cops, was expected to go on for weeks, a law enforcement source said.

But the feds were so overwhelmed by the quantity of illegal cigarettes coming in that they called the Swiss shipper behind the scam, Otamedia, and told it to stop sending the smokes, the source said.

Customs agents and postal inspectors worked with ATF agents and PA cops to stockpile the cigarettes in a hangar.

"In three days, we filled half a warehouse," the source said.

Otamedia sold Marlboros for as little as $13.95 a carton - allowing buyers to evade as much as $50 in city, state and federal taxes.

"Individuals that ordered these cigarettes are liable to pay those taxes, and the state and the city are entitled to collect their taxes," said ATF spokesman Joe Green.

City and state authorities are involved in the probe, and some sealed criminal complaints have been filed, Green said.

The city of New York won a $17.4million judgment against Otamedia last month for not paying city taxes.

Otamedia did not respond to requests for comment."

New York Daily News

Yesmoke

"The probe, launched after a DHL shipping company employee tipped off Port Authority cops, was expected to go on for weeks, a law enforcement source said."

BS. They've known about this for a long time. It didn't take some a-hole DHL employee to tip them off.

If anyone gets a visit from the taxman I'd say they have little to worry about: They didn't receive this shipment so they don't owe them any taxes.

This is my first post ... So, hello to everyone.

The Yesmoke Customs "bust" in New York has certainly damaged Yesmoke. The majority of Yesmoke's internet sales were from US sales. Now Yesmoke has completely stopped accepting orders from the US ... I wonder how this will effect the rest of the internet based companies that operate from outside the US?

Anyway, I have 2 separate orders pending from Yesmoke (prior to the US ban by Yesmoke). The first of these orders has already been charged on my credit card. It's been almost a month since this first order was made by myself. I have sent e-mails to Yesmoke asking for information on this order and that I am requesting a refund on the purchase. No response yet from Yesmoke ... Don't know anything about the second order (that was made only 10 days ago, and also before the US ban).

Anyone else have Yesmoke orders pending?

Ron,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Turbota,

Hi Ron,
A friend of mine lost out on a shipment. He's still waiting for a reply from yesmoke too on receiving a credit.

##@$@ government.

I just checked out Yesmoke's site. It said, "Refunds: as we have already notified you, must be obtained by request from you credit card company."

I don't know if my friend received this email. I guess I'll call him and tell him he has to get the credit by notifying his credit card company.

Dear friends we welcome you in our online cigarettes store

www.cigarettes-sale-online.com

cheap marlboro cigarettes $11
cheap camel cigarettes $9.5
cheap winston cigarettes $8.5

delivery to the USA within 14 days!

QUIT spamming the forum.
Once would be alright in the proper place, but this is ridiculous

See folks that is spam for those who have acused me of spamming.

I'm glad the back-door men are being beaten by enforcment of tax laws. By supporting these internet tobacco sales you are not only dodging tax, you are exporting jobs.

I ordered cigarettes online exactly once. I smoke Camel Lights, and specifically ordered the soft pack version. What did I get? The Box! They took a month to arrive and were stale. I saw this tax thing coming a long time ago, and I can only hope we don't get screwed on the Indian Reservations. I plan to get them that way if our Fascist governor (Hitler Doyle) gets his way. He wants to raise the tax $1.25 a pack, PLUS ban smoking in EVERY public place statewide. Prick..........

quote:

Originally posted by Pat:
I ordered cigarettes online exactly once. I smoke Camel Lights, and specifically ordered the soft pack version. What did I get? The Box! They took a month to arrive and were stale. I saw this tax thing coming a long time ago, and I can only hope we don't get screwed on the Indian Reservations. I plan to get them that way if our Fascist governor (Hitler Doyle) gets his way. He wants to raise the tax $1.25 a pack, PLUS ban smoking in EVERY public place statewide. Prick..........

Just try to order at our store
www.cigarettes-sale-online.com
We do not sell Camel Lights in soft packs but you may try a regular pack.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at support@cigarettes-sale-online.com

Dave do you ever contribute anything of value to these boards? Or are you just a troll?

I have reported the spammer.

Go gettem Pat!