53,000 Cartons Of Contraband Cigarettes Seized In New York 2016

New York State's Cigarette Strike Force seized over 53,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes and more than 261,000 untaxed cigars in 2016.

The combined street value of the items is about $5.6 million dollars and the seizures represent a 117 percent increase in illegal tobacco confiscations.

The State Tax Department has collected more than one-million dollars in penalties and fines so far this year from the illegal sale of untaxed tobacco.c

Governor Andrew Cuomo created the Cigarette Strike Force in 2014 to crack down on illegal tobacco trafficking and sales.

"New York has zero tolerance for this illicit activity and we will continue to do everything in our power to crack down on this behavior and stop these smugglers right in their tracks," Cuomo said. "Our message is simple: If you participate in cigarette smuggling, you will be caught and you will be held accountable."