Smuggling case tied to terrorists

The Detroit News ^ | February 5, 2003 | By Ronald J. Hansen

[Portnoy]

DEARBORN -- Nine Metro Detroit residents and two New Yorkers have been indicted on federal racketeering charges that claim the group funneled cash from illegal cigarette sales to Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia and political party linked to terrorism.

The 15-page indictment unsealed Tuesday claims the group bought more than $500,000 in cigarettes in North Carolina, where taxes are 50 cents per carton, and illegally sold them in Michigan, where the tax is now $12.50 per carton. The group, headed by Dearborn resident Elias Mohamad Akhdar, also bought cigarettes from the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in New York, authorities say. Profits went to Hezbollah, the government contends.

[Portnoy]

These guys lived in Dearborn AND Dearborn Heights Michigan.

[joesnuffy]

They should have just headed over to Canada with those...even if caught given their terrorist refugee status they would have gotten a slap on the wrist...and sent home

[Britton J Wingfield]

Let's make cigarettes illegal throughout the USA, then these groups will not be able to exploit them.