749 Cartons of Cigarettes Worth Nearly $60,000 Confiscated from Cruise Passengers in California

Two female cruise passengers attempted to illegally import 749 cartons of cigarettes worth nearly $60,000 into California.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a press release on Wednesday, May 14, that the cruise ship traveled out of Ensenada, Mexico, and arrived at the Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal on Thursday, April 17.

Upon inspection by CBP officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport area on that date, it was discovered that the women had 10 pieces of luggage full of cigarettes.

CBP officers found 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 cigarettes, the agency said.

According to the CBP, based on a low-end estimate of $80 a carton in California, the cigarettes’ total value is estimated to be $59,920.

Although the two women could present purchase receipts for the 749 cartons of cigarettes, the CBP said the pair did not provide the appropriate permits to import the large quantity of tobacco products.

The CBP said that because the women were traveling with a high number of cigarettes, they would be considered “commercial” and not for personal use, resulting in the need for an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

Related Stories

Cockroaches Seen Crawling Up the Walls of Spirit Airlines Plane Cabin to Trapped Passenger’s Horror

Woman with Invisible Disability Mocked by Passengers When Trying to Pre-Board Flight. Then She Got the Last Laugh

The TTB states on its website that an importer permit is required anytime anyone wishes to import tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, or roll your own tobacco into the U.S. for business purposes.

Tobacco product labels must also meet FDA standards, including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions.

Since the women did not present the proper documentation, the CBP said that all 749 cartons were seized and would be destroyed under CBP supervision.

Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, said in a statement that the “importation of tobacco products is highly regulated from both tax and consumer safety perspectives.”

“Travelers who intentionally disregard U.S. importation laws and regulations often pay a high price,” she added.

Africa R. Bell, CBP Port Director of Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport noted that the selling of illegally important cigarettes could also “yield high profits for underground vendors due to the low cost of cigarettes when purchased overseas and the evasion of taxes owed upon import.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“This type of scheme not only evades revenue owed to the United States but may be harmful to the American consumer,” Bell said. “CBP officers at our nation’s largest seaport complex, remain committed to enforcing our laws and to protect the American public.”