Three NY smokeshops raided: 300 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes confiscated

Law enforcement raided three smokeshops in Mastic, New York, pursuant to a seizure order requested by Phillip Morris Company. A federal judge granted the request based on the company's allegation that the shops were selling counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes. Philip Morris filed the civil suit Tuesday in federal court in Central Islip against three smoke shops and individual shop owners in connection with the alleged counterfeiting.

The raid took place on the Poospatuck Indian reservation; the same reservation in the middle of a closely watched lawsuit filed last year by New York City. As reported yesterday, the City won the first round in that lawsuit when a federal court granted an injunction against several vendors prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to nontribal members. 

A hearing on a temporary restraining order is set for September 3. 

You can read the story HERE.

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