NEW YORK: US Customs and Border Protection officials announced that $300,000 in undeclared loose-leaf tobacco was seized at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge late last year.
On Dec. 10, Customs officers encountered a tractor trailer outbound at the Lewiston Bridge which was selected for secondary examination. The manifest listed the cargo as toys from Massachusetts. An exam of the trailer revealed boxes of loose-leaf tobacco located behind pallets of toys. A subsequent investigation led by Homeland Security Investigators revealed that the tobacco was being smuggled out of the U.S. into Canada to avoid paying applicable Canadian duties.
We are) the last line of defense in the export control process,” said Joseph Draganac, acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director for the Port of Buffalo. “CBP uses its authority to inspect, search, detain and seize goods being exported illegally.”
Added Michael Kennedy, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Buffalo, “Smugglers who think that our ports of entry are an easy target for contraband are seriously mistaken. (Homeland Security) is committed to our partnership with CBP to aggressively protect the integrity of our nation’s borders.”
