2 men were arrested on October 26, 2009 for attempting to smuggle in 74, 000 packets of cigarettes. The men – aged 49 and 39 – were caught red-handed retrieving duty-unpaid cigarettes from the hollows of some surround speakers, in a rented warehouse along Chang South Street 1.
Further investigations revealed the older man had engaged the assistance of the other to carry out the illegal act. The helper was a repeat offender who had been convicted and sentenced to 30 months in jail in April 2007.
Both men were charged on October 28. The 49-year-old man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 33 months in jail for committing offences under the Customs and GST Acts.
His accomplice’s court trial is still ongoing and the pre-trial conference will be held in mid-November 2009.
Illegal Loot Uncovered In Surround Speakers
SC’s officers kept watch outside the rented warehouse over the weekend of October 24 and October 25. The two men were seen entering the store carrying large cardboard boxes. They closed the shutter door behind them.
The officers then heard knocking noises coming from the store. The men left empty-handed after a few hours.
They returned two days later and officers heard more knocking noises and sounds of heavy items being dragged across the floor of the warehouse.
The SC officers raided the warehouse and found seven pallets of boxes containing more than 100 sets of surround speakers lying around in the store.
About 7,400 cartons filled with packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes were stacked neatly at the sides of the store. Each speaker was stuffed with 70 cartons of cigarettes.
The cigarettes – worth $671,100 – and the speakers used as cover-loads were seized.

Cancer survivors are often inspired to live more healthfully, but not all do. Notwithstanding a desire to quit cigarettes, some continue to smoke despite knowing the health consequences.
But consider this: In a study of cancer survivors, more than a quarter who smoke didn’t receive any advice about quitting from their healthcare provider.
This and other revelations about cancer survivors and smoking are in a paper published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Researchers examined evaluations from 1,825 men and women, average age 67, who took part in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, an annual U.S. health survey. All the participants had been diagnosed with cancer at least one year prior, and they reported on their current smoking patterns.
Almost 18% said they were current smokers. Various forms of cancers had different smoking rates: Highest were cervical and uterine; lowest were female breast cancer and prostate.
A vast majority of all study participants — 95% — said they had visited their healthcare provider in the last year, but less than half (41%) said they had been asked about their smoking habits. In that group, more than two-thirds said their provider already knew their smoking status. About 72% of current smokers who had seen a healthcare provider said they were advised to quit smoking.
Most of the current smokers — almost two-thirds — said they wanted to quit smoking, with more than a third trying to quit in the last year. Those who were more likely to have received advice about quitting had related medical conditions, high stress, no medical insurance or at least a pack-a-day habit.
“While smoking cessation is difficult, it can play an important role in increasing cancer survivors’ quality of life,” said Elliot Coups, lead author and a participant in the Fox Chase Keystone Program in Cancer Risk and Prevention. “Time and again, studies have shown that people really do listen to what is said at the doctor’s office in regards to smoking, so healthcare providers need to take advantage of this teachable moment.”

Oct. 22–BANGOR, Maine– Attorneys from around the country descended Wednesday on the federal courthouse in Bangor for a conference on a class-action lawsuit against the makers of light cigarettes. It is the first multidistrict litigation case ever assigned to U.S. District Court in Bangor.
Multidistrict litigation, or MDL, is the label the federal judiciary gives cases filed against the same party or parties in federal courts around the nation. Once cases have been combined, a three-judge panel assigns them to one federal judge.At least 20 lawsuits from around the country have been combined in Bangor. The MDL has been assigned to U.S. District Judge John Woodcock, who has not handled one since his appointment to the federal bench in 2003. Moreover, the original Maine case that led to the 20-case MDL is once again in the hands of Woodcock, whom the U.S. Supreme Court reversed last year.
In a 5-4 a split won by the court’s liberals, the justices ruled in December that smokers may use state consumer protection laws to sue cigarette makers for the way they promote “light” and “low tar” brands. The Altria Group Inc. argued on behalf of its Philip Morris USA subsidiary that the lawsuits are barred by the federal ciga-rette labeling law, which forbids states from regulating any aspect of cigarette advertising that involves smoking and health.
Tobacco litigation in federal court is not unusual. Cigarette cases regularly are filed in state and federal courts around the country. It is unusual for the first case in the nation against a particular tobacco company to be filed in Maine.
Bangor lawyer Samuel W. Lanham Jr. filed the lawsuit in August 2005 on behalf of Lori A. Spellman of Levant and Stephanie Good and Allain L. Thibodeau, both of Bangor. Each smoked Marlboro Lights for 15 years or more. The plaintiffs are not seeking damages for personal injuries or health problems caused from cigarette smoking.
Instead, the lawsuit alleges that they were hoodwinked into thinking that “light” cigarettes contained less tar and nicotine than full-flavor cigarettes. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified compensatory, punitive and other damages.
Woodcock granted summary judgment in the cigarette makers’ favor in 2006. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that ruling the next year and attorneys for the tobacco firm appealed to the nation’s highest court. It was the first case argued during the U.S. Supreme Court’s term last year.
The meeting Wednesday was purely about scheduling — which motions the judge will hear first, when briefs must be filed, how often Woodcock will hold conferences with attorneys, and which attorneys on both sides will act as liaisons from the court to the more than 25 attorneys scattered throughout the country.
The case is not expected to be decided anytime soon.
No hearings in the case will be held until January or February. Once Woodcock rules on whether the facts in a landmark case upheld earlier this year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C., Circuit can be applied to the MDL case, his decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. That decision also could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Attorneys appeared visibly relieved when Woodcock, a Bangor native, said he would conduct monthly conferences via telephone and they would not have to fly to Bangor.
“I’m sure it would be helpful to the Bangor economy to have you all come her once a month, but I don’t think that’s the most efficient use of your clients’ money,” he said.

Cancer survivors are often inspired to live more healthfully, but not all do. Notwithstanding a desire to quit cigarettes, some continue to smoke despite knowing the health consequences.
But consider this: In a study of cancer survivors, more than a quarter who smoke didn’t receive any advice about quitting from their healthcare provider.
This and other revelations about cancer survivors and smoking are in a paper published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Researchers examined evaluations from 1,825 men and women, average age 67, who took part in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey, an annual U.S. health survey. All the participants had been diagnosed with cancer at least one year prior, and they reported on their current smoking patterns.
Almost 18% said they were current smokers. Various forms of cancers had different smoking rates: Highest were cervical and uterine; lowest were female breast cancer and prostate.
A vast majority of all study participants — 95% — said they had visited their healthcare provider in the last year, but less than half (41%) said they had been asked about their smoking habits. In that group, more than two-thirds said their provider already knew their smoking status. About 72% of current smokers who had seen a healthcare provider said they were advised to quit smoking.
Most of the current smokers — almost two-thirds — said they wanted to quit smoking, with more than a third trying to quit in the last year. Those who were more likely to have received advice about quitting had related medical conditions, high stress, no medical insurance or at least a pack-a-day habit.
“While smoking cessation is difficult, it can play an important role in increasing cancer survivors’ quality of life,” said Elliot Coups, lead author and a participant in the Fox Chase Keystone Program in Cancer Risk and Prevention. “Time and again, studies have shown that people really do listen to what is said at the doctor’s office in regards to smoking, so healthcare providers need to take advantage of this teachable moment.”

Two Mercedes-Benz cars of the same colour and make were used to smuggle contraband cigarettes across the Causeway from Malaysia to Singapore. Both were caught at the Woodlands Checkpoint on Monday afternoon.
The first car was driven by a lone male, who was subjected to checks after behaving uneasily during questioning. Upon lifting the rear backrest, Immigration Custom Officers (ICA) discovered 520 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank.
The potential customs duty and GST payable amount to S$3,700 and S$330 respectively.
The 49-year-old man confessed to smuggling the cigarettes across the border as he was unemployed and in “dire need of money”. He was also told that he would be paid $200 upon successfully delivery.
The driver admitted that a Singaporean man in Geylang by the name of “Ah Leng” had informed him about the smuggling job and also helped him modify the car.
About two hours later, another lone driver of a Mercedes-Benz was also caught with 466 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden in a modified fuel tank, bolted down by the rear backrest.
The potential customs duty and GST payable amount to S$3,340 and S$300 respectively.The 39-year-old man admitted to knowing about the hidden cigarettes and told ICA that a Malaysian man named “Ah Weng” had told him to drive the car to Johor Bahru to load the goods and to fit the car with a fuel tank.
He was also told by “Ah Weng” to drive the car to the Woodlands Town Centre carpark and wait for further instructions. Upon successful delivery, he would be paid $200 as well.
The two offenders, along with the cars and cigarettes have been handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
If found guilty and convicted, they could both face up to a fine of 20 times the amount of duty evaded and liable to a jail term not exceeding three years.

A year after a Texas death row killer’s cell phone threat to a powerful state senator embarrassed prison officials and triggered the largest shakedown of prisoners in state history, more cell phones are getting into prisons than ever.Prison officials have stepped up random cell searches and random searches of staff members and visitors. They also have installed video surveillance cameras at the entry points of nine prisons where contraband traffic has been high.
But as the first of $10 million in security upgrades is being spent to block and detect the flow of contraband, officials say that stopping the problem will take more time and equipment.
“The demand for cell phones remains significant enough for people to try and beat the system,” said Brad Livingston, the executive director of the prison system. “We think that when we implement the new security devices, we may see a spike in the numbers as we detect more. But we think that the efforts we have taken and will continue will make a difference in the long term to address this problem.”
New security tools on order include $480,000 worth of electronic devices that can detect and locate cell phone signals. They are expected to be delivered by February.
One potential solution, prison officials say, lies in pending federal legislation that would allow them to jam cell phone calls inside prisons. That would render the devices useless and remove the market for smuggling. The bill passed the U.S. Senate last week and is headed to the House, where cell phone interests have pledged to oppose it.
Thirty states, including Texas, have endorsed the jamming.
Though the number of reported cell phone seizures has increased overall, there is wide variation among Texas’ 112 state prison units.
The Stiles Unit in Beaumont continues to rank first — with 207 cell phones confiscated from convicts in eight months. Privately, prison officials concede that the Stiles Unit has long had a history of problems with contraband, including drugs, weapons and tobacco.
At the other end of the spectrum, cell phone seizures have plummeted at East Texas’ Polunsky Unit near Livingston, which houses death row. Twenty-three phones have been confiscated at Polunsky this year, reports show, compared with 193 last year. Prison officials attribute that drop to their stepped-up enforcement.
During the statewide lockdown a year ago, 22 cell phones were found on death row. During the latest search, none turned up, officials said.
“I’m glad they’re continuing to find these cell phones, but the fact that the numbers are so high indicates we still have a big problem,” said state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the lawmaker who received the threatening phone calls a year ago from condemned double-killer Richard Lee Tabler, who pleaded guilty last month to felony contraband and retribution charges. “If they’re getting cell phones inside prisons in increasing numbers, what other contraband are they getting in there?”
Prison system spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said confiscations of other contraband are also on the rise.
“Because of our concentrated and continuing efforts, yes, we’re finding more contraband,” Lyons said.
Two weeks ago, reacting to the continued flood of smuggled cell phones, prison officials ordered 14 of Texas’ toughest state prisons locked down and 35,000 convicts searched.
Lyons said 63 cell phones were found in initial searches, most hidden in cell door crevices and inside cell walls.
Prison officials said the security upgrades now on order — additional surveillance cameras, X-ray machines to inspect packages and purses like those at airports and a chairlike device called a Body Orifice Security Scanner that allows guards to check inmates for well-hidden contraband — are to be installed in coming months at the prisons where the most contraband is being found.
Other states are also grappling with an increase in cell phone confiscations.
California prison officials have confiscated more than 4,100 contraband cell phones this year, more than all those seized in the three previous years combined, a recent report disclosed.
In South Carolina, where more than 2,000 cell phones were confiscated last year, officials expect more this year.
“There’s no sign (that) it’s going down. It’s a steady flow,” said Josh Gelinas, communications director for the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
For his part, Whitmire said he thinks that jamming would solve the problem once and for all. But because its passage into law remains uncertain, he intends to continue pressing for security measures in the meantime.
“I’m not going to rest until we get the number (of confiscations) down,” he said. “When is someone going to get hurt or killed because of it?”
Prison reports show that prison authorities confiscated 995 cell phones between January and August, a rate that will top last year’s 1,226 seizures if it continues.

“The Truth” tour is known for eye catching campaigns and now Boise teens are getting to see what they’re all about.
A few ways that they’re getting teens attention about the dangers of smoking is by driving a big orange “Truth” truck around the country and give fun memorabilia like a whoopee cushion with their message on it.
They dance, play games and do everything kids love to do.
As they connect with young teens, Truth crew members say they’re also giving them information about the dangers of tobacco.
“Like 1200 that’s how many people die in the US from tobacco. 599, that’s how many additives are in one cigarette,” said a Truth Crew Member Tiffany Sawczenko.
Truth members say it’s like talking to a younger sibling, hoping they will think twice before picking up a cigarette.
“We’re going to be in Idaho until the end of Sunday, hitting up state parks, we’re going to be hitting up recreation halls, malls, anywhere where teens are going to be because our primary demographic is 12 to 17,” said Sawczenko.
And some members joined the fight for personal reasons.
“Me being part of the Truth, yeah I’m affecting kids across the country, my number 1 goal but personally I would like to help my brother out in stop smoking cigarettes,” said a Truth Crew Member Felix Lamorena.
The Truth campaign says it’s all about one thing.
“We have to have fun. That’s what it’s all about and what we like to do…as we spread the truth initiative,” said Lamorena.
The Truth Campaign is funded by tobacco companies as part of a settlement reached back in 1998.

SUPERTANKERS anchored off Tor Bay were boarded by Government officers during a duty-free swoop.
The giant oil tankers have been anchored off the South Devon coast for months, with some being there since March.
They are thought to be waiting for the price of oil to rise, and the 200 crew members have brought a big boost to the Bay’s economy.
However, last week their long stay came to the attention of the Borders Agency, whose officers were concerned about the tankers’ crews taking advantage of duty-free prices aboard the ships.
For each fresh journey the tankers take, they stock up on duty-free items such as cigarettes and alcohol.
These are kept in a ‘bonded store’ where crew members can buy items at cheap prices.
But it is understood the Borders Agency was not happy the crews continued to pay duty-free prices while being in British waters for so long.
They are believed to have boarded the tankers and sealed the bonded stores, leaving the crews to pay full prices from the mainland.
It is thought the stores will remain sealed until the tankers leave British waters.
A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “As part of their routine activity, UK Border Agency cutters have been operating in the Tor Bay area, and Border Force officers have boarded a number of commercial vessels.
“The agency has a responsibility to protect public finances, and a ship’s crew can only take advantage of duty-free arrangements within the limits of a port when they are unloading cargo, and not for a longer period of time.
“Cutters, alongside highly-trained UK Border Agency officers, perform an essential role and have led to huge seizures of controlled drugs and illicit cigarettes.
“Operations are conducted on a risk and intelligence-led basis.”
Kevin Mowatt, Torbay’s director of marine services, said he had some sympathy for the tankers’ crew members.
He added: “From an ex-sea-going mariner’s perspective, I think it’s unfortunate.
“The crew, when they come off watch, will not now be able to access their bond. They’ll have to pay full price for their cigarettes and alcohol.
“But the reality is if the Borders Agency has taken action, they’ve operated within the law.”
The tankers’ presence off Tor Bay recently made national headlines when Brixham trawler Propitious collided with an anchored 105,500-tonne supertanker 22 times its size in broad daylight off Torquay.
Fortunately the Panamanian-registered crude oil tanker Phoenix Hope is a modern vessel with a double hull, so there was no oil spill.
Following enactment of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009, the UK Border Agency is now responsible for the exercise of Customs and Immigration functions at the UK border.

CHARLESTON — A teenager agreed to prison time for his role in the break-in at a Mattoon convenience store during which several packs of cigarettes were taken.
Harley V. Runner, 17, of Windsor pleaded guilty to a burglary charge that accused him of breaking into Casey’s General Store, 2401 Marshall Ave., on June 1. He was sentenced to three years in prison for the offense that could have resulted in a three- to seven-year sentence.
Runner was also ordered to pay about $550 in restitution but will get credit for anything two co-defendants pay. One other suspect in the case pleaded guilty earlier and restitution was part of his sentence, while the case against the other suspect is pending.Police records in Runner’s case said an officer discovered that two glass doors of the Casey’s store were broken and an employee indicated that 50 packs of cigarettes were taken. The records also said Runner and other suspects were also implicated in a theft of soft drinks from Circle K, 1821 DeWitt Ave., Mattoon, on the same day.
agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Eric Neumann and Public Defender Lonnie Lutz recommended. Jeffery T. Schneider, 19, 729 N. Second Division St., Mattoon, was placed on probation in August and the other co-defendant is Kevin R. Peach, 18, 1508 S. Third St., Mattoon.
In other cases in court recently, guilty pleas were also entered by:
n Aaron L. Williams, 33, of Pesotum in Champaign County to a residential burglary charge alleging he broke into a home on County Road 1270E near Charleston on Jan. 25.
Williams received the minimum sentence of four years in prison for the offense that requires a four- to 15-year prison term when there’s a conviction. However, it will be consecutive to the 12-year sentence he began serving in May for a Champaign County conviction for aggravated domestic battery, amounting to a 16-year term for the two cases.
Righter accepted a plea agreement that Neumann and defense attorney John Gadau of Champaign recommended.
n Mark A. Bosel, 24, for whom records listed addresses in Toledo and Greenup, to an aggravated battery charge alleging he hit a woman in Charleston on Feb. 3.
The charge was a felony because the battery allegedly happened in a public place, the Charleston Walmart, and Bosel was placed on probation for 2½ years. A misdemeanor domestic battery charge was dismissed and terms of his sentence included counseling, $700 in fines and jail time that was stayed, meaning he won’t have to serve it if he follows requirements.
Righter accepted a plea agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Tracy Nemitz and defense attorney Jeannine Garrett recommended.
n Zakia K. Wardlow, 20, of Champaign to a possession of cannabis charge alleging she had marijuana found in her vehicle during a traffic stop in Charleston on Oct. 3.
The charge was reduced from possession with the intent to deliver and terms of Wardlow’s two-year probation sentence included substance abuse treatment, $1,100 in fines and stayed jail time. Circuit Judge Mitchell Shick accepted a plea agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Mick McAvoy and Garrett recommended.
A co-defendant, Jason L. Bailey, 23, also of Champaign, pleaded guilty and was placed on probation in June.
n Michael J. McNeely, 19, of Strasburg to an obstructing justice charge alleging he lied to police about another man’s involvement in a theft at the Mattoon County Market store on Dec. 28.
Terms of McNeely’s two-year probation sentence included counseling, a $1,000 fine, a requirement that he not return to the store and stayed jail time. Righter accepted a plea agreement that Nemitz and Garrett recommended.