CBP Seizes $60K in Illegal Cigarettes from Cruise Passengers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport have seized 749 cartons of illegally imported cigarettes from two cruise passengers arriving from Ensenada, Mexico. The discovery was made on April 17, 2025, inside 10 pieces of luggage belonging to two female travelers. CBP did not disclose the name of the cruise ship.

The passengers presented purchase receipts for the tobacco products but failed to produce the required permits from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which are mandatory for importing tobacco in such large quantities. The seized cigarettes included 326 cartons of Newport 100’s, 58 cartons of Newport regulars, 112 cartons of Marlboro Red, 43 cartons of Marlboro Silver, and 210 cartons of Marlboro Gold. Authorities estimated the total street value of the haul at approximately $59,920.

“The importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price.”

CBP officials confirmed that all of the cigarettes were seized and will be destroyed. They also warned that schemes to smuggle cigarettes into the U.S. for resale can lead to significant financial and legal consequences.

“Selling illegally imported cigarettes could yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import,” said Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director for the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. “This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer.”

CBP emphasized its continued vigilance at the nation’s busiest seaports to enforce importation laws and protect the public.

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