Smoke ’em if you got . . .

Actually, you’re not supposed to have ’em

Even the biggest chain smoker would surely agree that 27,940 packs of cigarettes is a lot. That’s how many were seized on Monday near Lonoke, along with $4,142 in cash, making it the second-largest bust by Arkansas Tobacco Control since the agency was formed in 1997. The largest occurred in October when agents seized 32,671 packs of illegal cigarettes near Carlisle.

The driver, from Atlanta, is in jail as of this writing, and is charged with possession of untaxed tobacco.

According to Scott Hardin, spokesman for the state’s Department of Finance and Administration, what made the seizure unique was the vehicle was a semi-truck.

“This was a large vehicle; this was an 18-wheeler,” said Hardin. The investigation is ongoing because Tobacco Control believes it may be part of a larger operation.

“These seizures are important for two reasons. One, we remove a large amount of illegal tobacco products from the state,” said Trent Minner, the DFA’s regulatory administrator. “Two, traffickers are made aware of these seizures and the consequences that accompany them.”

Apparently, inconsistencies among laws from state to state are a problem.

“Every state has different regulations when it comes to tobacco,” spokesman Hardin said. “What we see in a scenario like this is that someone obtains cigarettes in a state, legally or illegally, and then drives them from a state that has a low tax on tobacco … to a state where there’s a higher tax rate, which is illegal.”

All of the cigarettes seized were of menthol variety, and California has banned menthol cigarettes. That leads authorities to believe the seized contraband may have been destined for the Golden State. Further, it’s believed that the two busts, occurring within six months of each other, are not a coincidence. However, if you’re looking for low-cost cigarettes (we hope you’re not looking for cigarettes at all), don’t expect to find them at the local five-and-dime. These cigarettes are meant to be sold outside of stores that carry tobacco permits. In Arkansas, there are roughly 5,200 permits to sell cigarettes, and these black market cigarettes don’t carry the appropriate markings to make them legal.

These cigarettes will be destroyed. While this can be chalked up as a victory for American lungs, the health of legal businesses is at stake here, which, it can be assumed, is why these seizures are necessary.

Businesses owned by smokers and non-smokers alike should applaud the Arkansas Tobacco Control agency for their efforts to ensure businesses operating inside the state are doing it legally.